Zhaozhou Bridge

Facts of Zhaozhou Bridge

Chinese Name: 赵州桥 Pronunciation: zhào zhōu qiáo

Suggested Visiting Hours: 1-2 Hours

Building Time: 595-605 AD of the Sui Dynasty

Address: Above Xiaohe River of Zhao County, Hebei Province

Opening Hours: 08:30-17:30 from Monday to Sunday in all the year round

Building Function: It was built to link the banks of Xiaohe River for the connection between North and South China.

Entrance Fee

What You Need to Know About Zhaozhou Bridge

Zhaozhou Bridge

Built in the Sui Dynasty (594-606 AD), the Zhaozhou Bridge is located in Zhao County in Hebei Province. It has a long history of over 1400 years. The Zhaozhou Bridge, also called Anji Bridge or Dashi Bridge, is about 64.4 meters long and 9.6 meters wide. The bridge was designed by famous architect Li Chun, and the bridge was used for connecting banks of Xiaohe River. In ancient China, Zhao County was an important transportation hub along the only route linking North and South China. However, the Xiaohe River was like a stumbling block and cut off the route. Therefore, the emperor appointed Li Chun as the major designer to build a stone bridge over the river.

Stone Tablet

It is hitherto the oldest and best preserved single-hole and an open-spandrel stone arch bridge. The design of the bridge is unique and the construction of the bridge reflects the superb architectural techniques. The bridge is a combination of 28 arches. The shoulders at the ends of the bridge have two smaller spans, which is innovative and creative in the history of the bridge construction. The smaller spans show the advanced ideas of architectural design and a high level of bridge construction. The design not only cuts the use of building materials, but also lightens the bridge and enhance the stability of the bridge.

The “open-spandrel” structure was unprecedented in the bridge construction history then. It had an important bearing on the later bridge construction. The earliest European open-spandrel arch bridges were built about 1100 years later than the Zhaozhou Bridge which are in France and Luxemburg.

The Beautiful Scenery

Apart from its long history and sophisticated architectural techniques, the reliefs on the bridge also leave a profound impression on the visitors. The vivid and elegant patterns and carvings on the rails and columns demonstrate the exquisite craftsmanship of craftsmen and the artistic style of architecture of the Sui Dynasty. The reliefs on the bridge include animals, plants, fairy tales, and legendary creatures. The most attractive and famous parts among all carved stones are dragons.

If you have spare time after appreciating the greatness of the bridge, you can visit the Zhaozhou Bridge Park. There are green grass, trees, and interspersed pavilions in the park. Sitting under pavilions or trees for rest is nothing short of an enjoyment. In addition, there is a museum in which there are introductions to Zhaozhou Bridge, other famous Chinese bridges of ancient China and some original components of the Zhaozhou Bridge.

History of Zhaozhou Bridge

The Unique Construction

Zhaozhou Bridge has a long history of over 1400 years. It was designed by distinguished architect Li Chun. As a witness to the history of 1400 years, it has seen the ups and downs of different dynasties. It is actually a story in itself. It was finished in the Daye Period(595-605 AD). During over one thousand years, it has undergone many natural disasters, including 10 times floods, and numerous earthquakes, and 8 times wars. What deserves mentioning is that in 1996, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit Xingtai, 40 km from the bridge, however, it remained undamaged.
 

The famous Chinese bridge expert Mao Yisheng once said, despite its inner structure, it is the bridge’s long history of over 1400 years that proves the integrity of the bridge. According to recorded history, till 1827(Qing dynasty), the Zhaozhou Bridge has been repaired 7 times after its completion.
 

In 1961, it was listed as the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units. The vehicles are not allowed to get to the bridge to protect the bridge.
 

In 1991, Zhaozhou Bridge was rated as the twelfth International Civil Engineering Historical Sites by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
 

In 1996, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage submitted a Zhaozhou Bridge application for the World Cultural Heritage to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization). Its grounds for the application were that the Zhaozhou Bridge was the first open-spandrel stone arch bridge and played an important role in the world’s bridge construction history.

Recommended Travel Route

Enter the Ticket Office →Zhaozhou Museum→Zhaozhou Bridge Park→Zhaozhou Bridge

How to Get to Zhaozhou Bridge from Shijiazhuang City

By Bus

Take a bus 30, 106, 35, get off at Shijiazhuang Nanjiao Bus Station, then take a shuttle bus(Zhao County to Shijiazhuang) and get off at Zhao County Shita Station, then take a bus 2, and get off at Zhaozhou Bridge Station.

By Taxi

Chinese: 请带我去赵州桥。English: Please take me to Zhaozhou Bridge.

If one goes to the Zhaozhou Bridge from Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport, it takes about 1 hour(200 yuan).

If one goes to the Zhaozhou Bridge from Shijiazhuang Train Station, it takes about 70minutes (115 yuan).

The Snow-covered Zhaozhou Bridge

authorName23242: Cui Wu

Date: 29/10/2020

Email: info@chinatourstar.com

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