Smaller than the Broken Bridge in West Lake, this Hangzhou bridge with a 500-year history offers many attractions, yet it's rarely visited by tourists.
I'm sure everyone is familiar with one of the Ten Scenery of West Lake – 'Broken Bridge' – because it has almost become one of Hangzhou's most popular tourist destinations, and arguably one of Hangzhou's most famous bridges. However, in my opinion, there are many other bridges in Hangzhou that are worth visiting, perhaps it's not as famous as Broken Bridge, and the stories aren't as widely circulated, but it still has a very important influence on Hangzhou – that's the Guangji Bridge of Tangqi Ancient Town.
A long time ago, there was a saying circulating here: 'Once upon a time, there was a mountain: Super Mountain. Below the mountain was a river: Jing-Hang Grand Canal. Next to the river was a town: Tangqi Ancient Town. And in the town was a bridge: Guangji Bridge.' The Tangqi Ancient Town, which flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties, was once one of the richest in Hangzhou and throughout the country.
Nowadays, after the wash of time, the ancient buildings have long disappeared, leaving only this bridge – the Guangji Bridge located at the center of Tangqi Ancient Town and spanning the Jing-Hang Grand Canal. Despite being ravaged by 500 years of history, it still remains intact.
Legend has it that the Guangji Bridge was initially built during the Tang Dynasty's Bao Li years. It was destroyed during the Ming Dynasty, and the bridge you see today is a reconstruction dating back to 1498. The entire Guangji Bridge is 78.7 meters long, with a bridge deck two sections wide, 6.12 meters and 5.2 meters respectively, and 80 steps are arranged on the north and south sides, with six symmetrical archways in the middle spanning 15.69 meters.
Although compared to many other featured bridges, Guangji Bridge looks a bit plain, with its plain stone railings and scroll-patterned carved stone railings, it may not initially attract you. However, when you savor this bridge, you will find that it is the only seven-arch stone arch bridge remaining on the Grand Canal, and also one of the most iconic historical buildings in Xin'an District, Hangzhou. It also played a vital role in the application of the Grand Canal for World Heritage status.
With the successful application of the (Shen Yi - Shen refers to the application process for UNESCO World Heritage), combined with the ancient charm of Tangqi Ancient Town, more and more people come here to travel and explore. During holidays, the visitors on Guangji Bridge are dense, comparable to the crowds during the National Day holiday in Broken Bridge. Even so, the 500-year-old bridge remains steadfast, without affecting the superb craftsmanship of the artisans who built it.
Not only now, but in the early years when land transportation was underdeveloped, the Jing-Hang Grand Canal became the main transportation tool, fulfilling both passenger and cargo transport roles.
Even during the Qing Dynasty's Six Down to the South campaign, where the emperor visited twice, he chose to come here, so you can still see traces of Emperor Qianlong in Tangqi.
There used to be a saying about Tangqi Ancient Town – 'Thirty-Six Semi-Bridges.' These diverse ancient bridges adorned the water town of Tangqi Ancient Town, making it look like Venice on water. However, these bridges no longer exist, leaving only the Guangji Bridge spanning the Jing-Hang Grand Canal standing tall, enduring the ravages of time and still telling the tale of its former glory.
How to get to Tangqi Ancient Town's Guangji Bridge: There are bus lines 319, 350, 480, 487, 786, and 790, if you get off at the Tangqi Station, you can go there. You can also take the Tangqi Ancient Town one-day water bus from the Wulinmen pier.
