“Mountains high, scenery beautiful, roads dangerous and many temples.” That’s how the area around the Gouya Great Bridge is described. Gou means gully or ravine. Ya means peak. So Gouya means something like “ravines and peaks.”
The Gouya Great Bridge is located in the Gouya Natural Scenic Area. This scenic area lies in the Changping District of Beijing. It is near the Thirteen Tombs and Deshengkou. The bridge is about forty kilometers from the city.
The Gouya Scenic Area covers 6411 acres. It features eight gullies and nine mountain ranges. There are also twenty-two mountain peaks. The main peak is the Ziji Peak. It rises to 1670 meters. This area is known for its ravines and peaks that connect. Because of this, it is called “Gou Gou Ya.”
The Marco Polo Bridge, also known as the Lugou Bridge is southwest of Tiananmen Square. It is known for its many carved lions. Marco Polo called it a stunning bridge. The Yongding River flows beneath it.
Construction started in 1189 and finished in 1192. It was rebuilt in 1698. The bridge is 266.5 meters long. Its width measures 9.3 meters. It is supported by 281 pillars. Each pillar has a stone lion.
Each big lion has smaller lions hiding on it. They are on the head, back, under the belly or on the paws. The total number of lions is not certain. Numbers range from 482 to 496. Records say there were 627 lions originally. The lions date from different dynasties. Most are from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Some are from the Yuan Dynasty. The oldest ones are from the Jin Dynasty. They are quite rare.
Four ornamental columns stand at the bridge ends. They are 4.65 meters high. A white marble stele stands there too. One stele records the reconstruction by Emperor Kangxi in 1698. The other stele has calligraphy by Emperor Qianlong. It reads ‘Morning moon over Lugou’. The bridge has been a scenic spot for 700 years.
The Marco Polo Bridge is an architectural masterpiece. It is built of solid granite. A large central arch is flanked by ten smaller ones. Each pier has triangular iron pillars. These prevent flood and ice damage.
The Zhao Family Shop is like a bright pearl in Guangyun. It has unique natural scenery and culture. It promotes exchanges among ethnic groups. It strengthens the sense of community. Zhao Family Shop is in the southeast of Dayao County. It is 22 kilometers from the county seat. Yongda Highway and Nanyong second-class highway pass through it.
Here, mountains rise and fall. Green peaks stretch endlessly. It is like an unfolding landscape painting. The Three Pools Waterfall is here. It has a 222-meter drop. It is next to the Nanyong Highway. Strange cliffs and legends surround it. Birds and wildlife are abundant. The scenic area includes the Three Pools Waterfall and Jiangdi River Bridge.
Step across the Gouya Great Bridge. Then take a moment to admire the natural beauty.