“If you go to Chaozhou without visiting Guangji Bridge, you cannot say that you have been to Chaozhou.” That’s an old saying I’ve heard, and it speaks volumes about this bridge’s importance. Today, we’re standing before Guangji Bridge, a key cultural relic under national protection. It is also known as Xiangzi Bridge. The Guangji Bridge is one of China’s four famous ancient bridges.
Guangji Bridge crosses the Han River east of Chaozhou in Guangdong province. This isn’t just any bridge. It’s a testament to Chinese ingenuity and a living piece of history. For centuries, the Guangji Bridge served as a vital link between Guangdong and Fujian. It became a nexus for trade.
Let’s step back in time. Construction began in 1170 during the Song Dynasty. Zeng Wang, a magistrate, initiated the project. Initially, it was a floating bridge made of 86 boats connected together. It was originally named Kangji Bridge. Flooding in 1174 destroyed it. Reconstruction began with bridge piers on the west bank. Many magistrates contributed to its construction.
By 1206, 13 piers had been built. The east and west bridgeheads were connected by boats. This created a unique structure. It combined features of a beam bridge and a pontoon bridge.
The area around Guangji Bridge experienced periods of prosperity and decline. In 1435, Wang Yuan, a magistrate, reconstructed it. The bridge had 24 boats in between. There were 126 rooms in the pavilions on the bridge. It was then named Guangji Bridge.
In 1513, Tan Lun, another magistrate, modified the bridge. Guangji Bridge then consisted of 18 boats and 24 piers. People described it as “eighteen shuttle boats and twenty-four continents”.
Legends say fairies helped build Guangji Bridge. Han Yu, a famous poet, saw the river’s difficulty. He asked his nephew Han Xiangzi and a monk Guangji to build a bridge. Han Xiangzi invited eight fairies to help. Guangji invited eighteen arhats.
In 1724, Zhang Ziqian repaired the Guangji Bridge. He added two cast iron oxen statues to protect it. One was placed on the west bridge and one on the east. In 1842, a flood swept away the eastern ox statue.
The pavilions are now gone. The east pier’s ox statue washed away. In 1958, a beam bridge replaced the pontoon bridge. A new bridge was built in 1989. This protected the ancient Guangji Bridge. It reopened in 2009 after being rebuilt.
The Guangji Bridge has features of a beam bridge, arch bridge, and pontoon bridge. It is unique in China. There were rooms and pavilions on the Guangji Bridge. People did business there. It was known as “In one Li one the bridge, there is one Li of business market.”
The Guangji Bridge continues to draw visitors. It showcases the culture of Chaozhou. Guangji Bridge stands as a symbol of history, culture, and the enduring spirit of Chaozhou. Take a moment to appreciate the blend of engineering. Consider the legends that have been woven into the very stones beneath our feet.