Shidian Sutong Bridge

　　Sutong Bridge, also known as the Chain Bridge, is situated on the Mengboluo River at the boundary between Shidian County and Yongde County. The location is called “Hulukou” and it served as a post road bridge leading to Zhenkang and onward to Myanmar. It was built in the 34th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1908 AD). The bridge runs from north to south and was suspended across the cliffs on both riverbanks using ten iron chains. It has a clear span of 30.8 meters, a height of 8.5 meters, and a width of 3.5 meters. At each end of the bridge there is a concrete shelter. Outside the northern shelter, there are three cliff inscriptions and two steles recording benefactors’ contributions left from the time of the bridge’s construction.

　　According to the inscriptions, in the winter of the 31st year of the Guangxu reign (1905 AD), Xie Yujun, the magistrate of Yongchang, proposed the project. Yang Chaoran, a local gentry from Shidian, invited fellow local gentry including Zhao Duan, Li Baoren, Duan Xiaomeng, and Yin Shan to form a fundraising committee. Construction began on the 6th day of the 11th lunar month in the 32nd year of the Guangxu reign (1906 AD) and was completed on the 26th day of the 2nd lunar month in the 34th year of the Guangxu reign (1908 AD). Moved by the sight of “an iron bridge soaring across, a long rainbow hanging high, adding a new splendor to the landscape,” Xie Yujun gladly inscribed two large characters—“Sutong Bridge” (隧通桥) and “Calming Turmoil and Pacifying the Border” (定乱靖边)—on the northern cliff face, along with a spontaneous poem. He also composed a narrative essay commemorating the bridge’s construction, documenting the meritorious deeds of those who contributed funds.

　　On August 20, 1988, after the completion of the Mengboluo Bridge, located 15 meters upstream from Sutong Bridge, and with the linking of roads between Shidian and Yongde counties, Sutong Bridge ceased to be in use.

　　Location: On the Mengboluo River at the boundary between Shidian County and Yongde County