What are the basic types of ancient bridges in China since the Han Dynasty?

Since the Han Dynasty, four basic types of bridges in ancient China have been formed: cable bridge, pontoon bridge, beam bridge and arch bridge. In addition, there are flying pavilion, plank bridge, fiber bridge, channel bridge, covered bridge, curved bridge and cross bridge.

The ancient bridge in China is not just an air passage. On both sides of the bridge, guardrails are built; On the bridge deck, some have bridge pavilions, bridge houses or archways; At both ends of the bridge, some have bridgeheads and pavilions, huabiao and stone pillars, and stone lions and statues. On the watchpost and baffle of the guardrail, the auspicious patterns such as lions, elephants, dragons, phoenixes and monkeys, as well as lotus flowers, bamboos and clouds are carved from the door by means of relief, round carving and carving.

China's four ancient bridges

1 and Zhao Zhouqiao

Zhao Zhouqiao, also known as "Anji Bridge", are located 2.5 kilometers south of Zhaoxian County, Hebei Province. They span the north and south banks of Lianshui, and were built in the great cause of the Sui Dynasty (65-616), which was built by a famous craftsman Li Chun, with a history of more than 1,3 years. Because the bridge body is all made of stone, it is commonly known as "Dashiqiao".

2. Luoyang Bridge

Luoyang Bridge: The earliest existing cross-sea girder bridge in China, located on the Luoyang River in the eastern suburb of Quanzhou, Fujian Province, is the beginning of the raft foundation of bridges in the world and is a national key cultural relics protection unit. Luoyang Bridge, formerly known as "Wan 'an Bridge".

3. Guangji Bridge

Guangji Bridge is located outside the east gate of the ancient city of Chaozhou, Guangdong Province. Spanning the vast Hanjiang River and living in the traffic hub of Fujian and Guangdong, Mao Yisheng, a famous bridge expert, praised it as "the earliest open-close bridge in the world" for its unique style of "18 shuttles and 24 continents".

4. Ji Hongqiao

On the banks of the Lancang River, which runs 5 kilometers from Baoshan City, and on the Lanjin Ferry of the ancient Punan Road, there is a Ji Hongtie Bridge built in the 11th year of Ming Chenghua (AD 1475).