太仓石拱桥, Stone arch bridge in Taicang, China.
Taicang Stone Arch Bridges is a group of five Yuan-dynasty stone arch bridges in and around Taicang's old town: Gaobridge (1334, single arch, 18.9 m long), Zhoubridge (1329, three arches, 32.4 m long), Zhoujingbridge (1330, three arches, 30 m long), Jingtingbridge (1334, three arches, 22.3 m long) and Jinjibridge (1334, single arch, 11.7 m long). The three central bridges cross the Zhihetang, while the last two stand in Xinfeng village to the south.
The bridge was built during the Yuan Dynasty in the 14th century as part of a network supporting grain transport through major ports. It is one of five stone structures constructed to facilitate commercial river traffic in the region.
The five bridges are known locally by separate names: Gao, Zhou, Zhoujing, Jinting and Jinji. Gao Bridge, Zhou Bridge and Zhoujing Bridge all cross the Zhihe Tang along Xinhua Road, while Jinting and Jinji stand on the Zhangjiangmen and Zhulijing rivers in Xinfeng village south of the old town.
The five bridges lie in Taicang's old town and its southern outskirts: Gao, Zhou and Zhoujing bridges stand in sequence along Zhihe Tang on Xinhua West and East Roads, while Jinting and Jinji bridges are in Xinfeng village to the south. The three central bridges can be visited on foot in one walk; the village pair needs a separate trip.
The five bridges are not one structure but a set: Gao, Zhou, Zhoujing, Jinting and Jinji, all Yuan-dynasty stone arches in and around Taicang's old town, listed together in 2006. Their dates cluster between 1329 and 1334, and the Zhoujing bridge's main arch spans 11.2 metres.
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