Wenzhong Bridge in Taishun county, Zhejiang province. (ZHUANG TONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)
It is the upwardly curved eaves, gray-tiled roofs and wooden sidings that give the ancient covered bridges in Taishun, a mountainous county nestled in Zhejiang province, their distinctive appearance.
If on a clear day, a traveler stands gazing at one from distance, beneath the blue sky and white clouds, it's easy to imagine that a rainbow spans the stream. It's a breathtakingly beautiful sight.
Hailed as "the hometown of China's covered bridges", the small county is home to 32 ancient bridges constructed during the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (960-1911). Among them, 15 have been listed as major historical and cultural sites protected at the national level, the most of their kind in the country.
Zeng Jiakuai leads the construction of covered bridges. He is a provincial-level inheritor of "beam-weaving "techniques. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)
According to the National Cultural Heritage Administration, China has so far found 1,355 covered bridges built in ancient times, and 138 of them, located in 13 provinces and regions, have been listed as national-level protected relics.
In 2009, UNESCO inscribed the traditional design and practices of building Chinese wooden arch bridges on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Mostly found in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, which jointly applied for inclusion on the UNESCO list, covered bridges not only provide shelter from the sun and rain, but also serve as a nostalgic reminder of a heartwarming and bustling past.
Wenxing Bridge, nestled among patches of paddy fields, displays upwardly curved eaves and gray-tiled roofs, typical features of ancient bridges in Taishun county, Zhejiang province. (FANG JUNCONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)
"Because of its topography, Taishun has high mountains and meandering rivers. Before the advent of roads, traveling from one village to another often meant hours spent crossing rivers and scaling mountains. So, covered bridges played a vital role in the rural transportation network and became a little like relay stations for the villagers," says Lan Lina, deputy director of the county's bureau of culture, radio, TV, tourism and sports.
Having grown up in the county, Lan remembers that her father once allowed her to sit on his shoulders, as he carried a bag of gifts across a covered bridge on their way to visit her grandmother.
Her cherished memories are far more than that. Almost all the covered bridges also include shrines for passersby to conveniently worship and pray for safety or good luck. On special days like festivals, the bridges become markets, drawing vendors selling agricultural products and daily items, and sometimes, puppet shows are held on the bridges to entertain the young.
Zeng Jiakuai leads the construction of covered bridges. He is a provincial-level inheritor of "beam-weaving "techniques. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)
Better protection
Due to safety concerns, the practice of burning incense at the shrines has been prohibited. The bridges have been better preserved thanks to modern technology, and have had a more significant impact in promoting traditional culture and craftsmanship.
In late October, it was announced that the Three-Year Action Plan for the Protection of Covered Bridges (2023-25), which was issued in May, would be launched in Taishun. The aim of the plan is to create a comprehensive preservation system for covered bridges, and outlines 10 major tasks, including surveying them, gathering information about them, and setting up risk assessment mechanisms.
A digitally empowered platform has been implemented in Taishun to monitor risk factors, such as rainfall, river levels, abnormal bridge temperatures and smoke. It not only enables a prompt response to emergencies, but also aids in preventing and minimizing potential damage.
"We have also compiled a flood prevention manual that includes different emergency measures and guidelines for different types of covered bridges. For example, for bridges with strong load-bearing capacity, sandbags can be piled up to enhance its resistance and prevent collapse when the water level rises," says Lan.
Additionally, weather forecasts now focus on smaller areas within a 1-kilometer radius of the rainfall collection station near historical bridges, allowing for a more accurate and efficient response and better prevention, she adds.
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Zeng Jiakuai leads the construction of covered bridges. He is a provincial-level inheritor of "beam-weaving "techniques. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)
Ancient becomes new
With the centuries-old relics now well-preserved, the traditional skills and expertise needed to build and design covered bridges is attracting the interest of a new generation of carpenters. Over the past two decades, six teams comprised of around 100 craftsmen have been set up around the country and have built 46 new covered bridges.
Zeng Jiakuai, a provincial-level inheritor of "beam-weaving "techniques, leads one of the teams. It's a traditional method that involves interweaving and fastening multiple layers of wooden beams to create a single, strong and stable structure.
Born into a family of carpenters in Taishun, Zeng started learning to build wooden structures when he was 18 and began exploring wooden arch bridge construction techniques when he was 29.
Santiao Bridge in Taishun county, Zhejiang province. (FANG JUNCONG / FOR CHINA DAILY)
Determined and diligent, Zeng ventured into the mountains to study historical bridges, recording data on their heights, spans, and the sizes of their different parts.
Through meticulous research and preparation, which included making models and conducting pressure tests, Zeng became a self-taught bridge builder. He furthered his knowledge and skills by working under Dong Zhiji, a master carpenter who oversaw the construction of Tongle Bridge between 2004 and 2006, the first covered bridge built since the founding of People's Republic of China.
From 2017 to 2019, Zeng traveled to Nantou county in Taiwan on a number of occasions, staying for a total of five months to help build a 43.5-meter covered bridge, the first of its kind to be built in Taiwan.
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Beijian Bridge is one of the 32 ancient bridges in Taishun, Zhejiang province. Thanks to the joint efforts of the government and local artisans, the historical sites remain well-preserved. (LIN ZONGYI / FOR CHINA DAILY)
Having built 20 covered bridges, Zeng says that the structures have become a part of rural custom and culture. He says people in rural Zhejiang and Fujian provinces who have left their hometowns to work elsewhere find solace in the covered bridges, which helps relieve homesickness.
When traditional craftsmanship is revitalized by being passed down, the younger generation approaches heritage in a creative, modern way.
Bao Houji, director of Taishun's Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center, says that a series of cultural and creative products have been developed, including toy reproductions of its 32 ancient bridges.
Many newlywed couples, including those who travel specially to Taishun, like to use the covered bridges, which are mostly located in bucolic, picturesque surroundings, as the backdrop for wedding photos, making these old bridges even more popular and turning them into new internet sensations, adds Bao.
"Covered bridges are a unique but relatively niche form of cultural heritage conservation in China. They used to be an important element in public transportation and served as public gathering spaces for rural life. Nowadays, their preservation is an important pivot in passing on historical context and supporting rural vitalization," he says.
Contact the writer at xufan@chinadaily.com.cn
