Shouning County in Zhejiang Province, known as the "home of Chinese covered (or roofed) bridges," experienced a surge in popularity during the recent five-day May Day holiday, which ended on May 5. Activities including light shows and culture fairs were held in Taishun Covered Bridge Culture Park in Sixi Town, home to the Beijian Bridge, which has been dubbed the "most beautiful covered bridge in the world." More covered bridges built during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) are scattered among villages in the mountains of southern Zhejiang and northern Fujian Province.
Covered bridges, especially the unique wooden arch covered bridges, are remarkable examples of ancient Chinese wooden bridge construction. Built with mortise-and-tenon joinery, these bridges use no nails or rivets, relying instead on interlocking wooden pieces to create an arch. The bridge structure is covered with corridor-like shelters in various styles, providing protection from the elements. Beyond their transportation function, covered bridges historically served as social hubs for local communities, blending practicality with artistic beauty, and earning the title of "living fossils of world bridge history."
Recognized as the area with the highest concentration of preserved ancient covered bridges in China, the seven counties, namely, Taishun, Qingyuan, Jingning in Zhejiang and Shouning, Pingnan, Zhouning and Zhenghe in Fujian, jointly pursued UNESCO World Heritage listing for over two decades. Their efforts gained recognition in 2012 when the Roofed Wooden Arch Bridges in Zhejiang and Fujian were added to the World Cultural Heritage Tentative Lists in China.
(Text and photos by Wei Yao)
