Imagine Han soldiers marching across a bridge. This is not just any bridge. This is \u4e91\u6d25\u6865.
\u4e91\u6d25\u6865 stands as a testament to history. It whispers tales of emperors and ancient routes. Let’s step back in time and explore its story.
Once upon a time, this location was known as Lanjin Ferry. Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty sent expeditions. They explored lands inhabited by southwestern tribes. They used the Bonan Route and Lanjin Ferry. Han soldiers crossed a bridge here.
At first, it was a simple ferry. Boats and rafts carried people across. Later, a bridge was crafted from rattan and bamboo. Wood eventually replaced these materials. In 1475, during the Ming Dynasty, the Jihong Bridge was constructed. This is \u4e91\u6d25\u6865. It used 17 chains fixed to cliffs on both sides of the river.
The bridge spanned 60 meters. Fifteen connected chains formed its surface. Each chain had 176 links. Every link weighed 3.9 kg. Wooden boards paved the surface for travelers.
On the east bank stood a pavilion. It held an inscription by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. The inscription read “A Rainbow Extending to the Other Bank”. Beside it was the Martial Marquis’s Temple. It enshrined Zhuge Liang’s gilded statue. Avalokitesvaras Pavilion stood on the west bank.
These structures presented a marvelous view. Marco Polo and Xu Xiake visited this bridge. Even Emperor Yongli of the Ming Dynasty came here.
Literati left carved inscriptions on the stone walls. They wrote phrases like “A Marvelous Crossing from Cliff to Cliff”. Another said “A Rainbow Flying Over the River”. Others included “Key Pass to the Southern World” and “Golden Teeth Screening the Throat.”
\u4e91\u6d25\u6865 is over 500 years old. It predates the Luding Chain Bridge. That bridge was built in 1705. This makes \u4e91\u6d25\u6865 the First Bridge in Southwest China. It holds high value for studying bridge construction history.
It was a vital link in the Southern Silk Road. It served as the only place to cross the river by bridge.
Unfortunately, floods washed away the last Jihong Bridge in 1986. It was never rebuilt. The bridge heads and stone carvings now lie under a reservoir. Travelers once ferried across by boat.
Today, a new suspension bridge stands. It supports the construction of two larger bridges. One is for a railway and the other for pipelines.
So, as you stand here, remember the echoes of history. \u4e91\u6d25\u6865 may be gone. Its story remains. It connects us to emperors, soldiers, and travelers of the past. A silent witness to the passage of time, now resting beneath the waters, yet forever in our memories.