Anping Bridge, Stone bridge in Shuitou, China
Anping Bridge is a granite structure spanning 2070 meters (6,791 feet) across the Shijing River estuary, linking Anhai and Shuitou. The crossing is supported by 331 granite spans that carry the pathway above the water.
Construction began in 1138 during the Song Dynasty and finished in 1151, making it the longest bridge in China at that time. It held this distinction until 1905, when longer bridges were built.
The Shuixin Pavilion stands as the last of five original rest stations built into the structure. These stopping points reveal how travelers once used the crossing as part of their regular journeys.
The bridge can be crossed on foot or by bicycle, with views of the surrounding wetlands shaped by river silt deposits. The path is easy to walk and offers resting areas at preserved stopping points.
Individual granite beams weigh up to 25 tons each, demonstrating the advanced construction methods of the 12th century. These massive stones were precisely positioned and joined without modern equipment.
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