The Gongguan Bridge, located between Zunyi and Zheng'an, is the largest stone arch bridge in North Guizhou.
If you say the Gongguan Bridge to me, you probably wouldn't know where it is. But if you tell me, the Shuanghe Caves Scenic Area in Guiyang Suiyang is known. Yes, the Gongguan Bridge is located within the Shuanghe Caves Geological Park, 15 kilometers of the 'Four in Rural Areas' characteristic economic corridor, in the village of Fairness and above the Redtail Creek River in the township of Dapinzhen, Zheng'an.
Follow the Redtail Creek River upstream. The shallow Redtail Creek River is no longer as turbulent as it was a hundred years ago, the river surface has narrowed. This river is the true boundary between Suiyang and Zheng'an. People came and went, to reach the Fair Field market entrance, they took a boat from the boatyard wharf, to reach the other shore.
100 years ago. I came from Zunyi to Suiyang to Zheng'an (at that time called Zheng'an Prefecture). It wasn't by the current 207 Provincial Road. It was by Fair Field, which was also part of the old Guizhou route to Sichuan, the Sichuan Ancient Post Road (the old Provincial Road). So Fair Field was very bustling at that time, and there was a post station called Gongguan, a place for officials and messengers to rest.
Look! The clear blue water flows slowly under the bridge, from a distance the overall shape is beautiful and coordinated, it is a rare architectural art treasure, comparable to a beautiful landscape.
It was in the spring of 1905. The magistrate of Zheng'an County, Lang Chengmo, traveled back and forth between Zunyi and Zheng'an County. When he arrived at Fair Field, it was already dark, and he stayed in the Gongguan for a night. Halfway through the night, a torrential rain fell, the river swelled and flooded the surface and some farmland. Three days later, the flood subsided, and Lang Chengmo returned to Zheng'an. He decided to build an arch bridge here, and consulted with the magistrate of Suiyang, Fang Jun, the two counties jointly built this bridge, the main funds came from donations. Lang Chengmo took the lead in donating 50 taels, the local people donated money and goods. It took three years to finally complete construction. The bridge is managed jointly by the two counties, hence the name 'Co-managed Bridge'. Here is the boundary between the townships of Dapinzhen, Zheng'an and Wenquan, Suiyang.
The bridge is called the 'First Stone Bridge in North Guizhou' and the 'First South-West Stone Bridge' in the 'Guiyang County Records' and 'Supplemented Zunyi Prefecture Records'. 'First Stone Bridge in North Guizhou' needs no explanation. As for 'First South-West Stone Bridge', some friends may not understand it. Because this bridge is built on the Redtail Creek River, which is the south gate of Dapinzhen Township, Zheng'an, so it is called 'First South-West Stone Bridge'. Since ancient times, Dapinzhen Township has been called the 'South Gate of Zheng'an', so it is called 'First South-West Stone Bridge'.
Riding a donkey to seek the poet's idle interest and the hero's enthusiastic inscription on the pillars.
After the bridge was completed, it brought convenience to merchants. More importantly, it brought convenience to the local people. Before, they had to take a boat to cross. After the bridge was built, they could cross directly on the bridge. This brought benefits to the local people. So the local people erected three high stone monuments on the north bank of the bridge, engraved with 'Care for the People', 'Harmonious Travel' and 'The People Must Remember'. To thank the magistrate of Zheng'an County, Lang Chengmo, for building the bridge, the word 'Care for the People' in the middle was left by the magistrate of Zheng'an County to show his care and concern for the local people, a famous local official who left his name for eternity.
This bridge is recorded in the 'Guiyang County Records' and 'Supplemented Zunyi Prefecture Records' as: 'First Stone Bridge in North Guizhou' and 'First South-West Stone Bridge'.
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