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Wudong Bridge

Coordinates: 28°39′13″N 121°15′45″E / 28.653688°N 121.262368°E / 28.653688; 121.262368
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Wudong Bridge

五洞桥
Wudong Bridge in December 2016
Coordinates28°39′13″N 121°15′45″E / 28.653688°N 121.262368°E / 28.653688; 121.262368
CarriesPedestrians and bicycles
CrossesWest River (西江河)
LocaleHuangyan District, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China
Characteristics
DesignArch bridge
MaterialStone
Total length63.5 metres (208 ft)
Width4.3 metres (14 ft)
History
Construction end1086–1094
Rebuilt1735
Location
Map

The Wudong Bridge (simplified Chinese: 五洞桥; traditional Chinese: 五洞橋; pinyin: Wudong Qiáo; lit. 'Five Arches Bridge'), also known as Xiaoyou Bridge (孝友桥) and West Bridge (西桥), is a historic stone arch bridge over the West River in Huangyan District, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China. The bridge is 63.5 metres (208 ft) long and 4.3 metres (14 ft) wide with five arches.

History

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The originally bridge was built by Zhang Yuanzhong (张元仲) during the era of Emperor Zhezong of the Song dynasty (960–1279), and named after his courtesy name "Xiaoyou" (孝友).[1] It was completely destroyed by a catastrophic flood in 1196.[1] Local people Zhao Boyun (赵伯沄) donated property to rebuild the bridge and renamed it "Wudong Bridge".[1] It became dilapidated for neglect through the following dynasties.[1] In 1735 during the ruling of Yongzheng Emperor of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), General Wu Jinyi (吴进义), entrusted Shiyue (世月), a Buddhist monk from Mingyin Temple (明因寺), to rebuild the temple.[1]

In December 1989, it has been the focus of the Government of Zhejiang as a provincial cultural heritage conservation unit.

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Chen Zhongying (陈钟英). 光绪黄岩德清县志·卷七·建置志一·桥梁 [Deqing County Records] (in Chinese). 孝友桥在液金门外,俗呼西桥,修六十丈,广三丈,跨大江别浦。宋元佑中令张元仲垒石为之,元仲字孝友,因以名桥。庆元二年圮于水,邑人赵伯沄纠合重建,筑为五洞,桥面亦五折,取道其中坎,两旁以窍水,翼栏其上,视旧功十倍焉,后又渐圮。至国朝雍正乙卯吴总戎进义委明因寺僧世月重建,其地辽阔萧爽,待月甚佳。