Guangji Bridge | |
|---|---|
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Guangji_Bridge.JPG) a view of Guangji Bridge from the ancient city wall on the west bank | |
| Coordinates | 23°39′48″N 116°39′02″E / 23.6632°N 116.6505°E |
| Crosses | Han River |
| Locale | Chaozhou, Guangdong |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | beam bridge, bateau bridge, pontoon bridge, open-close bridge |
| Total length | 517.95 metres (1,699 ft) |
| No. of spans | 18 |
| Piers in water | 24 |
| History | |
| Construction start | 1170 (Year 7 of the Qiandao era, Southern Song) |
| Location | |
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| Guangji Bridge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 廣濟橋 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 广济桥 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Broad River Crossing Bridge" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Guangji Bridge (simplified Chinese: 广济桥; traditional Chinese: 廣濟橋; pinyin: Guǎngjì Qiáo; lit. 'Great Charity Bridge'), also known as Xiangzi Bridge (simplified Chinese: 湘子桥; traditional Chinese: 湘子橋; pinyin: Xiāngzǐ Qiáo), is an ancient bridge that crosses the Han River east of Chaozhou, Guangdong province, China.[1] A key cultural relic under national protection, the bridge is renowned as one of China's four famous ancient bridges, the other three being Zhaozhou Bridge, Lugou Bridge, and Luoyang Bridge.[2]
There is an old saying, "到潮不到桥，枉向潮州走一遭",[1] that means if you go to Chaozhou without visiting the bridge, you cannot say that you have been to Chaozhou. Mao Yisheng, a famous expert on the bridge, said, "A part of Guangji Bridge is connected by boats as a pontoon bridge. When it is open, there is a channel for ships and boats to get across. It can also be closed. Since it can be open or closed, it is a special case in the history of bridges in China."[3] There are various pavilions on the bridge, so there is a popular saying, "twenty-four pavilions have twenty-four styles". The pavilions housed businesses. It was a prosperous time, so people said, "In one Li one the bridge, there is one Li of business market."[1]
- ^ a b c "A taste of history in Chaozhou." Shenzhen Daily's Archives. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ "Guangji Bridge."China Culture's Archives. Archived 2013-05-31 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ "Chaozhou Guangji Bridge." Luturen's Archives. Retrieved 29 May 2014.