Bridges

Chinese bridges from ancient times, highly varied in material and form,are an important legacy with national characteristies ,occupying an important position in the world history of bridge building.

China, a country with such a long history ,has inherited from her past bridges history without number :there are , it is said , four million of them if one counts the stone arch bridges alone .In the southern regions of rivers and lakes , the landscape is dotted with bridges of various sized and descriptions , which make it all the more picturesque .

1.The StoneArchBridge

The stone arch bridge is the most common type of bridges one sees in China . According to historical records, the first stone arch bridge named Lurenqiao (Wayfares' Bridge) was built in A.D. 282 near the ancient Luoyang Palace.

That was more than 1,700 years ago . Then , in a Luoyang tomb dating back to the early Zhou Dynasty ,archaeologists found the gate to the burial chamberto be of arch structure ,showing that the stone arch existed in China already in about 250B.C. at the latest .

AnjiBridge is the most famous stone arch bridge in China . It spans the JiaoheRiver in Zhouxian County ,Hebei Province ,and is better known as ZhaozhouBridge after the ancient name of the country . Built during the years 591-599 A.D.by the mason Li Chun ,it is still being used as a bridge ,so is one of the brdges with the longest service life in the world . It is 9 meters wide and strtches all its 50.82 meters on a single arch spanning 37.4 meters of the river.On each of the “shoulder” of the main arch ,there are two spandrel or minor arches .

They not only improve the general look of the bridge but help to reduce its weight and thus lighten the load on its foundations. In times of food water, the minor arches join the main and to facilitate the passage of the current. Weakening its impact on the body of the form of squatting lions . It is therefore also called popularly as Shiziqiao (LionsBridge) , making it one of the scenic spots around Beijing.

The bridge with the largest number of stone arches is Baodaiqiao (TreasureBeltBridge )on the Grand Canal in Suzhou .Winding 317meters long . It is formed of 52 arches ,three of which are higher than the others to allow the passage of boats sailing on the main channel .The floor of the bridge is level and smooth ,making it easier for the boat-trakers of the old days to trudge on .It is said that the bridge was built with money realized from a precious belt donated by Wang Zhoushu , Governor of Suzhou in Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), hence its name . It has become one of the local sightseeing attractions.

The stone arch bridge is strong and sturdy but capable of Beijing built in a great variety of shapes . It has long been used as a landscaping structure in China .A splendid example is Yudaiqiao (JadeBeltBridge) in Beijing ‘s SummerPalace .A stone bridge of a single span ,it has a high arched back rather like the bump of a camel . Flanked by finely-carved white marble balustrades ,it is a picturesque decoration to the lake .

But the typical example of landscape briges is the Seventeen-archBridge in the same palace .Built in 1750 , the 150-meter-long bridge has often been compared to a rainbow spanning the lake between the eastern shore and the Manhu Islang. Adorning the stone balustrades on the sides are 554 lively lions exquisitely carved out of marble.

Technical improvements have been made since the founding of Nes China. In 1966 a single-span stone bridge with minor arches was built at Yixiantian on the Chengdu-Kunming Railways . It is the largest of its kind , being 63.2 meters long ,26 meters high ,with the mainarch spanning 54 meters . Again in 1971, a stone bridge was constructed at Jiuxigou in Fengda County ,SichuanProvince. Stradding 116 meters on a single span , it is the largest single –arch stone bridge in China up to day.

Stone arch bridges are highly resistant to weathering and can be very beautiful and dignified .Their material is often availing able locally. For these reasons, they said have a great future even though toher bridges are being built with more modern techniques.