Ming Dynasty Jianxi Bridge

　　Jianxi Bridge, situated outside Jianmenguan Pass and roughly two kilometers from the pass, crosses the Dajianxi River. It was an essential bridge on the ancient Shu Road that connected Chengdu to Zhaohua. Constructed during the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty by Commander Peng Shan of Lizhou, the bridge was built with bluestone and features three connected arches. The arch rings are made using a half-and-half spliced technique (also called lotus petal style). The bridge is 18.8 meters long, 4 meters wide, and 7.5 meters high. The eastern span is 5.3 meters, the western span is 5.2 meters, and the central arch spans 5.8 meters, with an arch height of 3.4 meters. The eastern span consists of 26 rows of coiled stones, the middle arch has 30 rows, and the western span uses 23 rows. The bridge deck is arched and paved with slab stones in a stepped pattern. The bridge pillars are 0.6 meters high and are adorned with carved stone dragon heads. The construction techniques are exquisite, and despite centuries having passed, the structure remains largely unchanged.

　　A poem by Hu Xidao of the Song Dynasty reads: “Several mountain ridges and bends apart, the road leads into ??餮逃昙洌?懒⑾?胖鼗厥祝?巴芬咽墙Ｖ萆健！苯Ｏ?磐酚惺???峡堂髡?露〕螅ㄕ??2年即1517年）Jianzhou Prefect Li Bi of Wuyuan wrote in his poem “Passing Jianxi Bridge”: “At dawn I cross Jianxi Bridge gazing at the hills, riding through mist where steeds’ hooves seem far. They say this is where the Golden Ox once passed—by fishing bridge I ponder rise and fall.”

　　Jianxi Bridge has been listed as an ancient bridge by Sichuan Province and designated as a cultural relic protection unit by Jiange County People’s Government.