Shouning Covered Bridge - Yangmeizhou Bridge: More Difficult Than Ascending to Heaven

Shouning County has numerous wooden covered bridges, but the Yangmeizhou Bridge in Kengdi Township is the most worth visiting, no other reason than its remote location, perilous terrain, isolated corner, yet incomparably beautiful.

On a day in midsummer, I drove first to Xiaodong Village to see three covered bridges, then set off from there to Yangmeizhou Village. I chose not to take the detour on the main road, which would have taken over two hours. Xiaodong Village is only 13 kilometers from Yangmeizhou, and the map showed a road; the villagers of Xiaodong said it was drivable.

Only after driving did I realize it was a rugged mountain road paved entirely with crushed stones, and most parts allowed only one car to pass, making it extremely difficult for two cars to meet. Fortunately, there were rarely any oncoming cars; I suspect even locals would avoid such a road.

Luck was on my side. I managed to reach Yangmeizhou Village, barely and nervously.

The village was on a high slope along a stream. I asked for directions and learned that walking along the stream for about 1 kilometer would lead to the bridge. The path was a clearly discernible ancient trail going upstream. After several consecutive days of rain, it finally cleared up, and my bad mood from the nerve-wracking drive vanished instantly.

Halfway along the path, seeing the lovely stream, I couldn't resist taking off my shoes and socks and stepping into the water. The stream was shallow, its clear water as green as verdant grass. Playing in the water was refreshing and pleasant. The streambed was covered with various pebbles; it felt more like a stone pool than a stream. The water droplets shimmered softly as they flowed over the stones. From here, I could see the Yangmeizhou Bridge not far away, quietly and serenely hanging between the cliffs.

Back on the bank, it was just a short walk to the Yangmeizhou Bridge. Amid the lush greenery on both sides, this ancient wooden covered bridge stood there, enduring through time. It connects the roads between Taishun in Zhejiang and Shouning in Fujian. It has many stories to tell, yet it remains so simple and unassuming.

(Recorded on May 5, 2022; travel date: August 27, 2018)