Wan'an Bridge, Stone arch bridge in Jinze, Qingpu District, Shanghai, China
Wan'an Bridge is a single-arch stone bridge over the City River in Jinze, Qingpu District, Shanghai. It measures 29 metres long, 2.6 metres wide and 4.8 metres high, making it the largest stone bridge in the town.
The first bridge on the site dates to the Jingding period (1260–1264) of the Southern Song dynasty. It was renovated three times: under the Jiajing Emperor (1522–1566), under the Wanli Emperor (1573–1620), and in the Qianlong period (1736–1795) of the Qing dynasty. In May 2001 it was listed as a cultural heritage conservation unit of Qingpu District.
The bridge's name comes from the phrase "Peace and serene for thousands of generations, good and prosperous life for all people" (万世安详、万民安业). It is the largest stone bridge in Jinze, a town of the City River, and locals sum up its standing with the saying "Of the 42 bridges, Wan'an Bridge is the top one" (金泽四十二虹,万安桥居首).
Wan'an Bridge stands in Jinze, Qingpu District, Shanghai, spanning the City River in the town centre, so it is reached on foot rather than by a rural trek. Jinze lies west of central Shanghai in Qingpu's water town area. The bridge is a single stone arch, so crossing it means climbing a stepped or sloped deck; the 2.6-metre width leaves little room when others pass.
Wan'an Bridge is the largest stone bridge in Jinze, a town once credited with 42 bridges. A local saying ranks it first among them: "Of the 42 bridges, Wan'an Bridge is the top one." Its name comes from a dictum wishing peace and prosperity to thousands of generations.
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