Guangji Bridge, commonly named Xiangzi Bridge, Guangji Bridge which spans the Hanjiang east of the city, is the first bascule bridge in the world, and one of the four most famous ancient bridges in China, together with Zhaozhou Bridge in Hebei Province, Luoyang Bridge in Henan Province and Marco Polo Bridge in Beijing.
In 1174 float bridge shatter by the flood, procurator Chang Wei repairs it, and establish outstanding pavilion at west bank, begin west bank pier construction. Until 1194, across fifty-four years, Zhu Jiang, Wang Zhenggong, Ding Yunyuan, Sun Quanjing building built successively, finish building of ten piers. Among as procurator Yunyuan build the largest scale; most outstanding achievements recall west bridge Ding Gong Bridge . In194, procurator Shen Zongyu Pan stone west bank build Cover beautiful booth , and called east bridge Jichuan Bridge , in succession, procurator Chen Honggui, Lin Biao, Lin Hui add building successively, until 1206 last a period of twelve years, build pier thirteen. After east and west bridge established, middle also linked by float boat, forming basic pattern that girder bridge combined with Float Bridge. Late Song till early Yuan dynasty, Guangji Bridge again has lots of prospers and deposes, in 1435, Wang Yuan preside scale unprecedented Repeat stone repair , after finish West bank is ten pier night hole, long forty-night Zhang and five Chi; east bank is thirteen pier twelve hole, long eighty-six Wen; middle hollow is twenty-seven Zhang seven Chi, build boat twenty and four is float boat , and Set booth and house hundred and sixteen , recalled Guangji Bridge . In 1724, Zhang Ziqian repair Guangji Bridge, and casting two cow, set at the eighth and twelfth pier of West Bridge respectively, meaning Calm Bridge and resist flood . Flood in year 1842, east pier iron cow falls into the river. So has a balladry: Chaozhou Xiang Bridge quite dissolute, eighteen shuttle boat twenty-four continent, twenty-four tower twenty-four shape, two iron cow one slip. Pattern that girder and boat combined, make Guangji Bridge forming its own three characteristics: first, eighteen shuttle boat twenty-four continent . Bridge linked by twenty-four piers of east and west and eighteen shuttle boat of middle, float bridge can open and close, structure unique, at the same time, also combine girder bridge, arch bridge, float bridge as a whole, this is a exclusive example on our nation bridge history; second, twenty-four tower twenty-four shape , that is build twenty-four different booths on piers, indeed is layer pavilion, gather beauty; third, One inner long bridge one inner city.
The Bridge serves as a passage for pedestrians usually, and at scheduled occasion the connected shuttle-ships are open for other ships to pass. Guangji Bridge is an exceptional case in the Chinese bridge history as it combines the structure of a pontoon bridge, column bridge and arch bridge.
Due to the fact that Guangji Bridge connects eastern Guangdong to Fujian and Jiangxi and that Hanjiang controls the eastern Guangdong water traffic, the Bridge used to a busy commodity exchange centre with 24 storied-towers and lots of shops on the bridge at that time.
Nowadays Guangji Bridge is replaced by a modern reinforced bridge. People no long see the hustling market scene on the bridge but many manually-pooled carts and pedestrians passing to and back. Legends about the creation of Guangji Bridge however are heard by people with interest and curiosity.
Guangji Bridge once became the significant pivot for collection, distribution and transshipping of goods. It is a real portrayal at that time that Each li of the bridge is a market and the bridge is so long that when you are on the bridge you still ask where the bridge is .
How to get there:
you can take Bus No.3 and 10 and get off at Hanci Temple stop.
Tips:
Recommended Visiting Duration: for 20 minutes