Shilong Bridge

　　 Shilong Bridge is located in front of the government building of Shilong Town, spanning the north and south banks of the Shilong River. It was first built in the 11th year of the Qianlong reign (1746), rebuilt during the Guangxu period, and measures 40 meters in length, 5.2 meters in width, and 12 meters in height. The main arch spans 14 meters, while the secondary arch spans 7 meters. The entire bridge is constructed entirely from blue stone without using any mortar, showcasing the advanced bridge-building techniques of China and the wisdom of its laboring people.

　　 At both ends of the bridge approach stand a pair of stone lions, which glare fiercely and exude an imposing aura. The stone railings, balusters, and canopy on both sides of the bridge deck are adorned with intricate relief patterns. The outer sides of the balusters are inscribed with eight bold horizontal characters: “Dragon Coiling over Eastern Waters” and “Stone Locking the Pearl River.” The two stone railings are carved with exquisitely detailed and vivid mythological legends and opera tales, including “Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl,” “Two Phoenixes Facing the Sun,” “Eight Immortals Celebrating Longevity,” “Fengji Visiting a Sage,” “Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage,” “Clever Borrowing of the East Wind,” “Borrowing an Umbrella at West Lake,” and “Eighteen Farewells.” These carvings add a radiant, resplendent brilliance to the bridge, not only demonstrating the exquisite artistry of Qing Dynasty relief sculpture but also reflecting the flourishing state of Qing Dynasty theatrical arts, highlighting the cultural and artistic prosperity of the period.

　　 In short, Shilong Bridge is an ancient stone bridge that integrates architecture, carving, form, and theatrical art. It achieves a high level of craftsmanship in both construction and sculpture, making it a rare gem among ancient stone bridges in Guangxi. In 2000, this stone bridge was designated as a Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the People’s Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

　　 Another ancient theater stage was built around the same time as Shilong Bridge. Located not far from the bridge on Shilong Street, its design is largely similar to that of the Datian Theater Stage and also holds certain preservation value.