Imagine moonlight shimmering on the water below. That is the Xiaojiaoting Bridge. The Yongding River flows beneath it. This historic structure sits southwest of Tiananmen. It is about 9 miles away. Once, Marco Polo described this bridge. He called it stunning. That’s how it got its nickname.
The Xiaojiaoting Bridge is also known as the Lugou Bridge. It is famous for its many stone lions. They line both sides of the railings. Construction started in 1189. It finished in 1192. Later, it was rebuilt in 1698. The Xiaojiaoting Bridge stretches 874 feet long. It measures 30.5 feet wide.
There are 281 pillars. Each pillar has a stone lion. Some lions hide on the big lions. They might be on the head or back. They could be under the belly or on the paws. It’s hard to count all the lions. Over time, counts have varied. People have found between 482 and 496. Records say there were 627 lions originally. Each lion has a different posture. They also vary in age. Most lions are from the Ming and Qing dynasties. A few date back to the Yuan Dynasty. Lions from the Jin Dynasty are rare now.
Four ornamental columns stand at the bridge’s ends. They are 15 feet high. White marble steles stand here too. One stele tells about the reconstruction. Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty rebuilt it in 1698. Another stele has Emperor Qianlong’s calligraphy. He was Kangxi’s grandson. It says “Morning moon over Lugou”. For 700 years, this bridge has been scenic.
The Xiaojiaoting Bridge is an architectural masterpiece. It is made of solid granite. A large central arch is flanked by ten smaller ones. Each pier has triangular iron pillars. They protect against floods and ice.
But this bridge is also a place of conflict. The Marco Polo Bridge Incident took place here. This marked a key moment in history.
Nearby, you can visit other places. The Wanping City Wall is close by. You can also see the Sculpture Garden. The Lugou Bridge History Museum is worth a visit. The Xiaojiaoting Bridge is more than just stone and carvings. It’s a landmark with stories. It connects us to the past.