Chixi Bridge

　　Chixi Bridge, a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit, is located about 300 meters southwest of Xiachixi Village, Chengyuan Township. Originally constructed in the 55th year of the Qianlong reign (1790) of the Qing Dynasty and renovated in the 23rd year of the Jiaqing reign (1818), the bridge is a wooden arch covered bridge with a single span. It measures 33.5 meters in length, 5 meters in width, has an arch height of 9 meters, and a clear span of 24 meters. The structure employs two systems — the three-section and five-section “seedling” frames — forming an intricate yet sturdy eight-character arch, making it a classic example among ancient covered bridges with high historical and cultural value. The bridge house contains 60 pillars and 13 bays, with the central bay featuring a double-eaved gable-and-hip roof and slightly upturned wing corners, adorned with Eight Trigrams paintings inside. The sides of the bridge house are covered with overlapping storm boards and feature various geometric-shaped window openings. The majority of Chixi Village residents are descendants of Yan Zhenqing, a renowned official and master calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty, and the bridge was funded and built by the Yan family. Despite more than 200 years of weathering, the bridge remains as solid as ever.

　　Source: Local Chronicles of Zhenghe County