Journey to the Covered Bridges of Southwest Zhejiang

Actually, I had visited Taishun and Lishui many years ago and seen covered bridges, but I hadn’t looked carefully or systematically understood them. I’ve long wanted to make a covered bridge tour, and I’d prepared an itinerary for quite a while. This time, I mentioned it to Brother Feng and Brother Wang, and both were very enthusiastic, so we set off after the holiday rush. The trip was planned for about 12 days, mainly to explore the covered bridges of Chuzhou and Taishun, with some ancient villages along the way. Due to the route, we would also pass through Shouning in Fujian.

The first stop was Hu Town in Jinyun. Hu Town is located in the northeastern part of Jinyun County, at the intersection of “three cities and four counties,” with a long history. It had a market as early as the Tang Dynasty and was an important commercial distribution center in central and southern Zhejiang. After Jinyun was established as a county during the reign of Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty, it was placed under Jinyun. The earliest written record of Hu Town as a town dates back to the Northern Song Dynasty, when it was called Huchen, and together with “Jiulong” and “Xiaoshun” (Jinhua), it was one of the three ancient towns in central and southern Zhejiang.

Brother Feng had a college classmate, Mr. Ying, who was from Hu Town and happened to be there. He warmly invited us to meet, so we agreed to gather at the ancient Nine Pine Temple (Jiusong Temple). Nine Pine Temple, also known as Zisheng Fayuan, is a Pure Land Buddhist site. Its history can be traced back to the first year of Kaiyun in the Later Jin Dynasty (944 AD). After several dynasties of rise and fall, it was rebuilt in the 22nd year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty (1817) by the monk Xiufeng, making the temple once prosperous, with over a hundred monks.

The temple gate is not large, but inside it reveals a different world. Built on the mountain, it rises in layers, resplendent and magnificent, showing its thriving incense. Mr. Ying was acquainted with the temple steward, so he took us to meet two former abbots. To our surprise, we discovered that the temple was entirely staffed by nuns, which is quite rare.

After having a vegetarian meal at Nine Pine Temple, Mr. Ying took us to “Bai’erjian” (120 Rooms). Bai’erjian was relocated from Songyan Village in the reservoir area to Tuanjie Village in Hu Town due to the construction of Qianming Reservoir. It is the largest Qing Dynasty ancient building discovered in Lishui City. According to the Hu Family Genealogy and existing plaques, it was built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty by Hu Jingdun. The main structure is 70 meters long and 58.5 meters wide, with a total area of 4,095 square meters. It features one central gate and four side gates aligned in a straight line. From the central gate inward, the building consists of three large courtyards—front, middle, and back—each progressively deeper. Each courtyard is paved with cobblestones arranged in patterned motifs such as auspicious deer and palm-leaf fans. On both sides of the three large courtyards, there are four medium-sized and four small courtyards. Inside, there are four longitudinal corridors and three transverse ones, with a total of 90 rooms. In fact, the folk name “Bai’erjian” is just a figurative term.

Today, the various side rooms of Bai’erjian are exhibition spaces for rural culture, including root carvings, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, intangible cultural heritage, health teas, strange stones, jade, wheat-straw paintings, Hanfu, Xuanyuan yellow wine, opera culture, and a museum of traditional wedding customs (Ten-Mile Red Dowry). During our visit, we happened to meet a local calligrapher, Jiangnan Shanren, who honored us with a horizontal scroll reading “Shi Ya Lan Xiang” (Elegant Room with Orchid Fragrance). We felt truly privileged.

When in Hu Town, a visit to Yanxia Stone Village is a must. The villagers of Yanxia Village are predominantly surnamed Zhu. According to the Zhu Family Genealogy, their ancestor Zhu Guoqi served as the governor of Zizhou in Shandong during the reign of Emperor Taizu of Later Liang. He was later demoted to Yongjia in Wenzhou as a household registrar. In the fourth year of Taiping Xingguo in the Northern Song Dynasty (979 AD), Zhu Guoqi’s second son, Zhu Shi, went hunting in Kuocang and, delighted by the beautiful scenery, moved from Wenzhou to settle in Nantian Village. In the third year of Jianwen in the Ming Dynasty (1401 AD), the 18th-generation descendant Zhu Jinzhi moved to Yanxia Village, named after the nearby Baizhang Rock.

At the village entrance, the first thing we saw was a quaint stone arch bridge, quietly guarding the passage of time, covered in moss and vines.

Walking along the stone-paved path, we were surrounded by lush bamboo groves and stone houses. The silence was broken only by the occasional elderly person shuffling by. Even the village’s little yellow dog couldn’t be bothered to get up when it saw strangers; it just glanced at us and continued sleeping under the eaves.

We heard there was a waterfall behind the village, with a coffee shop beside it. So we climbed up the stone steps, following the babbling stream and swaying bamboo. The stream was filled with oddly shaped rocks, full of rustic charm. Though the waterfall was just a thin trickle, the thatched-roof coffee shop beside it added a certain charm to the place. Unfortunately, we arrived too late, and the coffee shop was already closed. What a pity!

Dinner was at a guesthouse called “Little Bridge and Flowing Water” (Xiao Qiao Liu Shui). The home-style free-range chicken, stream fish, and brine tofu were incredibly delicious. Although the mountain village is remote and high up, the development of rural tourism has brought many fine guesthouses. Along the village lanes, we occasionally saw villagers selling homemade fermented tofu, dried bamboo shoots, and other products by the roadside, with QR codes for self-service payment.

We stayed overnight in Hu Town and went out to enjoy the night view. Hu Town, the most populous township in Lishui, truly rivals a county in scale. The streets were brilliantly lit and bustling.

Arriving at the old street, we found it wasn’t very crowded—probably because the National Day peak had passed. Although it had been restored to its old appearance, we could still sense the original flavor of Hu Town: a traditional-style signboard for a supply and marketing cooperative, the still-inhabited Qing Dynasty Lyu Family Nine-Jin Hall, and the double-well from an uncertain era...

Early the next morning, we walked 700 meters to Xianmu Bridge on the Hao River. Xianmu Bridge was built in the 23rd year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty (1818). Existing steles, including “Xianmu Bridge, Built by Lyu Cai Shi,” “Sanqiao Stele,” and “Epilogue to the Xianmu Bridge Stele,” stand at the western bridgehead. They record that Lyu Zaiyang of Hu Town, following his mother Lyu Cai Shi’s will, built three bridges: Xianmu, Jiyi, and Jingshuang, recounting their philanthropic deeds. Xianmu Bridge is a multi-arch stone arch bridge running east-west, serving as a key passage between Tai and Wu. Originally, it was 67 zhang long, 1 zhang wide, with 13 arches. After two reinforcements and widenings with concrete grouting, it now measures 137.4 meters long, 6.8 meters wide, and 7.8 meters high, with an arch span of 8.55 meters. It is truly magnificent.

After viewing the bridge, we went to a Lishui intangible cultural heritage pancake shop—Jinyun Pancake (Lishui Shanding branch). The technique for making Jinyun pancakes originated in Hu Town during the early Ming Dynasty and boasts a long history and unique flavor. It is the most famous traditional food in Jinyun County. The main tool is a “pancake barrel,” using charcoal as fuel. Pork belly is minced, mixed with dried vegetables and scallions. The filling, with streaky pork and dark brown dried vegetables, is sprinkled with scallions, then coated with a thin layer of malt syrup and topped with black sesame seeds. When the oven reaches 230°C, the dough is quickly stuck to the interior wall and baked. After about 3–4 minutes, the pancake turns golden, exuding a rich aroma—crispy and delicious. Pancakes with wontons make a perfect combination. Hu Town wontons feature thin wrappers and generous fillings, with a special touch of crispy fried wonton wrapper crumbs added on top, enhancing the flavor.

Today’s plan was to depart from Hu Town, pass through Heyang Ancient Village, then head to Songzhuang Village, Youtian Village, and Shangtian Village in Songyang, finally staying at Yangjiatang Village. The main focus was ancient villages. Heyang Ancient Village is only about 30 kilometers from Hu Town, a 40-minute drive. Heyang Village was founded in 933 AD, known as “800 chimneys, 3,000 people.” It is an ancient village with over 1,100 years of history. Its water systems and roads largely preserve the design characteristics of the Yuan Dynasty. It features ten major clan estate-style buildings, including the Song Dynasty ancient temple Fuchang Temple, Yuan Dynasty Eight Scholars Gate, ten ancient ancestral halls, five ancient temples, and hundreds of old residences totaling over 1,500 rooms. 94% of Heyang villagers are surnamed Zhu. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Xizong, the Zhu ancestors Zhu Qingyuan and Zhu Qingyuan (note: likely a typo; should be Zhu Qingyuan and Zhu Qingyuan’s brother) fled from Xinyang, Henan to avoid the turmoil of the Five Dynasties, and settled here. To remind future generations of their roots, they named the place “Heyang,” combining one character from each of their ancestral place names.

At the village entrance, there is a large square where villagers were drying grain. Six large drums stood in the square, and the five characters “Heyang Ancient Residences” with their emblem were very prominent.

Strolling through the well-preserved Huizhou-style ancient buildings, we admired the exquisite brick and wood carvings left from past dynasties, marveling at the superb craftsmanship of the ancients.

Soon we came to a pond at the village center. The sun was already high, and the water reflected a row of white-walled, black-tiled horse-head walls, a magnificent sight. The bright red “福” (fortune) symbols on the old wooden doors stood out vividly.

Finally, we visited the most famous Yuan Dynasty building in Heyang, the “Eight Scholars Gate.” The Zhu ancestors passed down farming and scholarship through generations, producing many talented individuals. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, eight scholars passed the imperial examinations, forming the “Yiyang Poetry School.” Legend has it that the Eight Scholars Gate was built in their honor. In front of the gate stands a pair of headless stone lions, gifted by Zhu Yuanzhang, named “Xihan” (rare), signifying that it was rare for one village to produce eight scholars. They have a history of over 600 years.

Inside the Eight Scholars Gate, we found a tea shop. The group went in to quench their thirst. The shop was small but tastefully decorated, serving mainly local green and black teas, along with some Yunnan Pu’er. The owner was a local young man whose wife was from Yunnan. They had an adorable little daughter eating wontons at the tea table. She looked at us warily, and when we joked about sharing her wontons, she hugged her bowl and shook her head vigorously, making everyone laugh. The owner brewed two different black teas for us, explaining that he had a tea garden and factory in the mountains. He had only opened this shop this year as a place to negotiate with merchants and display products. When I asked about the cost of tea, he said, “No charge—just follow my public account and help spread the word.” He’s quite business-savvy.

Leaving the shop and Heyang, we headed straight for Songyang. Our first stop was Songzhuang Village, which has been well-developed. Its most famous attraction is probably the stone bridge that has become an internet sensation. The weather was quite hot—30°C again—so we ducked into a coffee shop by the bridge and ordered iced double-espresso lattes. That felt refreshing.

Originally, we planned to visit Youxi Village and Shangtian Village, but the coffee shop owner said they weren’t as distinctive as Songzhuang, and it was already past 3 PM, so we decided to skip them and head directly to tonight’s accommodation, Yangjiatang Village.

We booked a farmhouse outside the village entrance, a 5-minute walk from the village, which offered much better value than the boutique guesthouses inside. After checking in, we went to explore the village. Nestled in a ring-shaped mountain hollow, with hills on both sides, the village consists of over 20 Qing Dynasty earth-and-wood houses climbing up the slope, creating a huge architectural facade. Two 500-year-old camphor trees at the village entrance, set against the staggered horse-head walls, looked especially ancient and weathered, witnessing the 360-year changes of the Song family.

“Golden Potala Palace” is the nickname of Yangjiatang Village, and the reason for its internet fame. We walked through the village paths, past the old primary school site, and climbed to the highest point opposite the village. We waited in the viewing pavilion for the golden light of the setting sun on the horse-head walls. While waiting, we chatted with a couple also in the pavilion. They were from Hangzhou, had set off a few days earlier on a road trip, and, coincidentally, were staying at the same guesthouse. What a coincidence!

As the sun slowly descended, the light grew softer, and the mud-yellow walls of the opposite village gradually turned golden, incredibly beautiful.

Early the next morning, I took another stroll through the village. It was almost empty, with only a few village dogs playing on the paths. At the small tea garden at the village entrance, an elderly couple was picking tea leaves.

Today’s plan was to visit Xikeng Village, Pingtian Village, Chenjiapu Village, and Jieshou Village in Songyang. We also considered going to Changlian Village in Suichang but gave up due to time constraints. Instead, we returned to Songyang county town to see Shimenwei Covered Bridge.

Nowadays, roads in mountainous areas are well-paved, mostly asphalt, making driving through the mountains very pleasant. Xikeng Village dates back to the Ming Dynasty, located at the junction of Songyang and Wuyi counties, on a hilltop platform at an elevation of 640 meters. The village has a well-preserved ancient post road from the Northern Song Dynasty. The sun was scorching, so we took a quick look at the village houses, which were rather ordinary. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see the beautiful misty scenery. We asked a villager if there was a covered bridge nearby. They pointed down the ancient road, so we started descending. After walking for more than half an hour on the little-used ancient path, we barely reached the mountainside. We could faintly hear the sound of a stream in the valley. Along the roadside, various hiking clubs had left ribbon markers. Exhausted, we also encountered a fork in the path, so we decided to give up.

We drove to Pingtian Village, known as “Cloud on Pingtian.” The houses were all rammed-earth structures with yellow walls and black tiles. Walking through them, we didn’t find them as beautiful as the terraced Yangjiatang; perhaps they needed to be viewed from a high point outside the village. However, a giant cypress tree at the village entrance was truly stunning, its ancient trunk covered in moss, exuding a unique charm.

Next was Chenjiapu Village, an internet-famous spot nicknamed “Little Potala Palace.” There were noticeably more tourists, and the commercial atmosphere was strong. Personally, I didn’t think it was all that great. I wanted to get a coffee to cool off, but the double espresso I ordered at one café was bland and tasteless—a rip-off. So I went to the famous Librairie Avant-Garde bookstore and bought another coffee. The clerk apologized that they had no ice. I showed her my cup of just-emptied ice and said, “Here, I have some.” Haha.

The cliffside Librairie Avant-Garde, founded in 1996, was converted from a village assembly hall built over 50 years ago. The layout is simple yet exquisite. A 3-meter-square platform was added on the southwest side as a rest and viewing area, offering panoramic views of the village’s mountain scenery. It has been selected multiple times by international media as one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores, and it truly lives up to that. After browsing, I found a black coffee cup with the bookstore’s logo quite appealing and promptly bought one.

Leaving Chenjiapu Village, we drove to Jieshou Village on the border between Songyang and Suichang counties. An ancient post road runs southeast-northwest through the entire village. Along the road, well-preserved Qing Dynasty structures include the Liu and Zhang ancestral halls, the King Yu Palace, a memorial archway, old shops, inns, stone arch gates, and the Zhendong Women’s Two-Class Primary School. The village was tidy and quiet, with complete public facilities. That day, coincidentally, the village was celebrating the Chongyang Festival. After hosting a lunch party for the elderly in the village, they set up a stage for Yue opera in the afternoon. Everyone was joyful, but I wondered if it was too sunny for dozens of elderly people to sit and watch the show. Haha.

Leaving Jieshou, we returned to Songyang and went to see a unique covered bridge over the Songyin River—Shimenwei Covered Bridge. It’s unique because it’s not an old wooden traditional covered bridge. Its predecessor was a concrete double-curved arch bridge built in 1974 without steel bars. By the end of 2012, it was almost abandoned. The construction of the Songyin River scenic area in 2016 brought new life to the bridge. The renovation was undertaken by Beijing DnA Architecture Studio. Using a wooden assembly structure, the covered bridge stretches along the 263-meter bridge, with the roof opening at the arches, echoing the bridge’s structural rhythm and creating a play of light and shadow along the linear path. The enlarged platform in the center retains the stone carvings from the 1970s. The bridge’s lighting design won the 36th International Lighting Design Award. Unfortunately, we visited during the day, so we missed the night lights. We also didn’t catch the lively Sunday market on the bridge. A bit of regret.

Beside the covered bridge is the Wuyang Weir, built in the Ming Dynasty on a grand scale. It is a historical remnant of the Songgu irrigation area and still functions for water diversion and irrigation.

After dinner, we strolled through Songyang’s old street, ending the day.

Day Four officially began the covered bridge tour. I was woken early by the noise from the Songyang Tea Market next to the hotel. I got up and wandered over. It happened to be the 10th day of the lunar month, and the market is held on days ending with 5 or 10. The green tea section was the largest, with a smaller black tea section. It was bustling with activity and the air was filled with tea fragrance. Bags of tea weighing 60 jin (30 kg) filled the trading area, and there was even a livestreamer setting up a tea table for a broadcast.

Traditionally, Zhejiang people drink mainly green tea. Songyang is an important tea-producing area, with varieties such as Songyang Silver Monkey, Songyang Fragrant Tea, Songyang Black Tea, Silver Monkey Dragon Sword, Silver Monkey White Tea, and Silver Monkey Mountain Orchid. In the black tea section, I noticed a vendor with two large bags of black tea, one marked “sugar-free.” I chatted with him and learned that the other bag had added sugar to cater to customers’ tastes. Next to him was a female vendor surnamed Lan. Her tea was clearly of higher grade. I wanted to buy a few jin, but unfortunately she didn’t have loose tea that day—only 60-jin bags. So I bought a few jin of sugar-free black tea from the vendor. It was very cheap—30 yuan per jin—great value. I bought resealable bags from a shop across the street and packed it myself.

Leaving Songyang, we drove along winding mountain roads to Yuyan Town, where Puji Bridge sits at the village entrance. The bridge was first built during the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty and renovated during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty. It is a two-pier stone pillar cantilever beam covered bridge, 26.5 meters long, 5.5 meters wide, with a span of 6.5 meters. The central bay retains original Ming Dynasty features, with a caisson ceiling supported by swastika-shaped dougong brackets, very distinctive.

From Yuyan, we went to Dongshu Village in Chengbei Township, Longquan City, near the border with Batou Village in Ankou Township, Suichang County. The Suilong Bridge spans Batou Creek, connecting the two villages. It was first built in the early Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in 1924. It is a one-pier, two-span wooden covered bridge, 29.6 meters long, 4 meters wide, spanning 17.5 meters. The southern side of the central bay has a Buddhist shrine, with a couplet on the pillars: “Fragrant pavilion stands in midstream, flower rain spreads blessings; a long rainbow rises from the sky, the Milky Way stretches into Dragon Abyss.”

Jichuan Bridge, at the end of Dongshu Village, was built in the 15th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1889). It is a one-pier, double-span wooden beam covered bridge, spanning 23 meters, 32.32 meters long, 4.32 meters wide. The roof is a single-eave double-slope type, with the central three bays featuring double-eave gable-and-hip roofs. The central bay has a shrine on the south side dedicated to the Dark Warrior Emperor (Zhenwu).

Next was Yongqing Bridge. After parking at the entrance of Xixia Village and asking a local man for directions, we followed a village path through overgrown grass to a secluded, abandoned area at the end of the village, where we found Yongqing Bridge lying quietly over Baiyan Creek. Built in the late Qing Dynasty, it is a single-arch stone covered bridge with a clear span of 15 meters, total length 43.33 meters, width 6.18 meters, and 13 bays. The central three bays have double eaves, with a shrine in the central bay dedicated to the Dark Warrior Emperor.

Leaving Yongqing Bridge, we went to Enqiao Village, where Ji’en Bridge spans the Dagui River. Built during the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty (1851–1861), it is a single-span beam-type wooden covered bridge, 23.05 meters long, 7.59 meters wide, with a clear span of 13 meters. The southern side of the covered section has a corridor between the golden columns and eave columns, with painted wooden components featuring intricate carvings. The central seven bays have a shrine (bridge temple) dedicated to Guanyin and others. The bridge combines temple and bridge functions, unique in style.

We stayed overnight in Longquan, booking a river-view guesthouse called “Sumuzhe” at Sanjiangkou. When navigating, it turned out to be in a pedestrian street, and we almost got stuck. We had to ask the owner for detailed directions, then detour to park at the Sanjiangkou scenic area entrance and walk over 200 meters to the hotel. Fortunately, the location was excellent with stunning views, so we didn’t complain too much.

After a short rest, we ordered iced coffee at the popular Water Tower Café in the Sanjiangkou area and strolled around to enjoy the scenery. Today’s journey was a bit tiring, so we needed to treat ourselves in the evening. We walked down the steps from the guesthouse, crossed a long stepping-stone bridge over the river, and found a locally popular restaurant called Chen Family Courtyard. The restaurant was incredibly busy—no seats in private rooms or the main hall—so they seated us in the wedding banquet hall. Haha, we had a huge private room to ourselves.

Today we planned to go from Longquan to Qingyuan. In the morning, we found a Chatian Wonton Shop and enjoyed Longquan’s special delicacy, which truly lived up to its reputation.

We drove to Huangnan Village in Xiaomei Town, Longquan. On the west side of the village, we saw the Guxi Bridge, lying quietly among the village streams and fields. It was a delightful first sight. The bridge has massive stone piers, upturned eaves, and a cobblestone-paved deck with intricate patterns. Commonly called the “Flower Bridge,” it was first built in the Ming Dynasty, originally over 200 meters long, divided into two sections: one a stone arch covered bridge, the other a grass bridge. In 1838, it was destroyed by a flood, and the stone arch section was rebuilt. The current bridge is 51.75 meters long, with an arch span of 8.5 meters and a rise of 4.6 meters.

Shuangxi Bridge, in Sunken Village, Xiaomei Town, spans the Qingxi River. Built in 1932, it is a simply supported cantilever beam covered bridge with a single span of 16 meters, total length 45 meters, width 4.5 meters, and 11 bays. The central bridge pavilion has a three-eave gable-and-hip roof with upturned eaves, an interior caisson ceiling, and a shrine—very exquisite.

Bantouting Bridge, in Chenbian Village, Qingyuan, was first built during the Zhizheng period of the Yuan Dynasty, rebuilt in 1818, and reconstructed in 1947. It is 28 meters long, 4.9 meters wide, with an arch span of 21.2 meters and an arch height of 5.2 meters. The central bay has a double-eave gable-and-hip roof, with a shrine on the south side dedicated to Guanyin. Set against the green hills and black-tiled yellow walls, the bridge presents a unique rustic beauty.

Zhukou has two bridges. Fuliang Bridge is at the town entrance. It was first built in the 9th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1411), underwent renovations during Jiajing and Wanli, and was rebuilt during Daoguang. In the late 1960s, it was demolished due to pier collapse, then rebuilt in 2011. Now it spans Zhukou Creek again, 76.8 meters long, 66 meters clear span, 5 meters wide, 6.6 meters high, with two piers and three spans. In terms of length, it is second only to Mengzhou Bridge in Qingyuan, making it the second longest covered bridge in Qingyuan.

The other bridge, Houkeng Bridge, is in Fengtang Village. It was first built in the 10th year of Kangxi (1671) and rebuilt in the 11th year of Guangxu (1885). It is a single-span wooden arch covered bridge with a slightly curved roof, standing gracefully under the blue sky and white clouds.

In the afternoon, we arrived in Qingyuan and first went to see Mengzhou Bridge. It is the longest covered bridge in Qingyuan, appearing majestic from a distance, like a coiled dragon and crouching tiger over the Songyuan River. First built in the Zhiyuan period of the Yuan Dynasty (1264), it was rebuilt in the 5th year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1526), renovated in 1986, destroyed by fire in 1992, and rebuilt again in 2006. It is 114.67 meters long, with a clear span of 80.8 meters, 39 bays, bridge pavilions at both ends, and a three-eave tower in the center. It is the longest single-span wooden arch covered bridge in China.

Today’s guesthouse turned out to be on a hillside at the edge of town. We had to drive through winding alleys and up a steep >20-degree slope to park. The Kia minivan struggled a bit; even the tires were smoking, which scared my companions. Haha. The guesthouse was interesting—it was originally a mushroom research institute. It offers a panoramic view of the county town, in a quiet environment with many large trees. The owner also created a bougainvillea garden in an open area, very beautiful.

After a short rest, we walked to explore the covered bridges in town. Along the greenway of the Songyuan River leisure park, at the junction of Zhukeng Creek and Songyuan River, we saw a quaint and elegant covered bridge—Yonggui Bridge. It was first built in the 10th year of Dade in the Yuan Dynasty (1306), and underwent renovations and reconstructions in the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods. Using natural rock as the foundation abutment, it is 38.75 meters long, with a clear span of 21.5 meters, a rise of 8 meters. The central three bays have double-eave gable-and-hip roofs, integrating pavilion, terrace, tower, and attic. Standing by Shilongtan, its rust-colored body blends harmoniously with the surroundings, like a landscape painting.

We originally wanted to visit Niao Bridge, but a passerby advised against it, saying it was near a funeral home and rather gloomy. So we heeded the advice and went instead to the Covered Bridge Museum to learn about the history, conservation status, and ancient construction techniques of Qingyuan’s covered bridges.

Qingyuan is a land of covered bridges, rivaling Taishun. Today, we would tour villages to see Qingyuan’s most beautiful covered bridges and mountain villages.

Originally, we were to go to Daji Village first, but we drove past it and first went to Xiyang Village in Wudabao Township. Fortunately, it wasn’t far. Let’s see the most beautiful covered bridge first. The weather was fine, still hot, but the mountain air was clear. At a glance, we saw Lanxi Bridge under the blue sky, with its white walls and black tiles. In the roadside parking lot, we encountered our first group tour on a bus—a bunch of Shanghai uncles and aunties—testament to Lanxi Bridge’s fame.

Lanxi Bridge spans the Songyuan River. It was first built in the 2nd year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1574) and renovated in the 59th year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1794). It is the single-span wooden arch covered bridge with the largest span in China, 48.12 meters long, 5 meters wide, with a clear span of 36.8 meters and an arch rise of 9.8 meters. It has 19 bays. The central bay has a double-eave gable-and-hip roof, with a shrine on the south side, and the eaves rise sharply. The caisson ceiling is painted with motifs of double phoenixes facing the sun and the Eight Immortals. Both ends of the covered section have fireproof gable walls, and the approach has steps with splayed walls on both sides.

To avoid the crowd, we went down to the creek’s pebble beds to view the bridge from below. Looking up, the bridge was even more imposing, its large-span tension radiating robust charm against the green hills and clear waters.

Beside the bridge stands the famous Xiyang Hall, first built in the 1st year of Xianchun in the Song Dynasty (1265), also known as “Songyuan Hall” or “Wu Panfu Hall.” It was built by mushroom farmers from Qingyuan, Longquan, and Jingning to commemorate Wu Sangu, the “founder of mushroom cultivation.” The hall is 32 meters deep, 19.4 meters wide, covering 952.35 square meters. Enduring a thousand years of wind and rain, it remains intact. The screen wall, entrance hall, stage, central pavilion, and main hall are arranged in layers. The eight-shaped screen wall has flying eaves and painted beams; the double-eave gable-and-hip bell and drum towers feature carved beams and upturned eaves. The beams, lintels, corbels, brackets, and other components of the main hall reveal grandeur in minute details. The rich, rustic colors of black, red, green, and white blend with the green mountains and clear waters, creating a breathtaking beauty.

We tried to learn the origin of the unusual name “Xiyang Village,” but found nothing, so we gave up.

Returning to Daji, known as the “Village of Scholars,” located not far from the county town. When we entered the village to look for the bridge, the first thing we saw was the Lu Fu Temple, inscribed with “Famous Mountain, Blessed Land.” It turned out to be the only temple in Zhejiang Province dedicated solely to the ancient medical sage Bian Que. The temple enshrines Lu Fu, who is Bian Que.

Lu Fu Temple was built in the 1st year of Zhizheng in the Yuan Dynasty (1341), with a history of 660 years. It is built according to the terrain, with well-proportioned heights, a rustic style, grand momentum, strict structure, and is well-preserved. According to historical records, it was built by the Wu family of Daji to commemorate the divine physician Bian Que of the Warring States period. Bian Que, originally named Qin Yueren, also known as Lu Yi, was revered as Lu Fu Shen.

It is said that the wooden statue of Bian Que on the altar has movable limbs that can bend and stretch. During temple fairs, villagers would carry the statue around the village. The statue would be dressed in plain clothes and a small cap, making it feel approachable. Later generations, admiring the divine physician, come to worship year-round, seeking medical advice. Their prayers are said to be very effective, drawing pilgrims from all directions. In front of the incense table, there is a bamboo tube with 100 numbered sticks. Most of these sticks contain medical prescriptions. Experts and scholars have confirmed that these 100 prescriptions are properly dosed and have sound medical reasoning. Among them, six are non-pharmaceutical prescriptions, corresponding to the “six incurable conditions” recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian: arrogance and disregard for reason, valuing wealth over health, improper diet and clothing, imbalance of yin and yang and unstable qi, emaciation preventing medication, and believing in shamans over doctors.

Shuangmen Bridge is small, but it is one of the earliest documented wooden arch covered bridges in China. First built in 1049, it was renovated in the 1st year of Longqing in the Ming Dynasty (1567). It collapsed in a flood in 1992 and was rebuilt to its original form on December 11 of the same year. It is a woven-beam wooden arch covered bridge, 11.15 meters long, 4.5 meters wide, with a clear span of 10.2 meters and a rise of 5.2 meters. Because Wu Chongxu, the founding ancestor of the Wu family in Daji, had two sons who both passed the imperial examinations in 1024 and 1034 respectively (both earning the title of jinshi), it was called “one family, two scholars.” To celebrate this auspicious event, two wooden memorial archways were built at each end of the Lingqing Bridge, named “Double Laurel Connected Archways,” forming a unique combination of bridge, temple, and two archways. The bridge was then renamed Shuangmen (Double Gate) Bridge.

Putian Bridge, at the end of Daji Village, is very small: 16.50 meters long, clear span 9.50 meters, arch rise 4.20 meters, width 4.40 meters. First built in the Song Dynasty, it underwent renovations in the Ming Wanli, Qing Shunzhi, and Qing Daoguang periods, and was rebuilt in 1937. It is also one of the earliest documented wooden arch bridges in China.

Leaving Daji, it was getting late, so we abandoned the planned visit to Kunde Bridge in Gaizhu Village and headed directly to Yueshan Village in Jushui Township. Passing through Yangjiazhuang Village in Lingtou Township, we stopped to look for Hulong Bridge. Unlike previous villages, this one was rather shabby, with dilapidated yellow earth houses. We saw villagers drying a type of mushroom called locust tree flower (similar to oyster mushrooms), which was in season. A small stream running through the village was being dredged and repaired. When we asked villagers if the area would improve, most just shook their heads silently.

At the end of the village, we found Hulong Bridge. It is a simply supported wooden flat-beam covered bridge, not as imposing as arch bridges, and not very distinctive. First built in the 25th year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty (1820), it is 27.75 meters long, with a clear span of 7 meters and a height of 2.15 meters.

Today’s final destination was Yueshan Village in Jushui Township, renowned for “ten bridges within two li.” An ancient poem says, “Half moon, half mountain dwellers, pine and bamboo shade the eastern ring.” The guesthouse “Xiangantu” booked on Ctrip turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

The guesthouse was right by the roadside in the village. The entrance was simple and small, but inside, it was filled with artistic flair. The style was a fresh, minimalist American country, with green plants everywhere, light-colored wooden furniture, and decorative paintings of flowers, birds, fish, and insects, creating a cozy and elegant atmosphere. The owner, Mr. Wu, was surprised to learn we were from Jiaxing, saying he had once started a business and lived there for many years before returning to run this guesthouse. His wife was also from Jiaxing, and his brother still works as a photographer there. What a coincidence! When I asked about the decoration, he said his father was a photographer, influencing the whole family’s artistic work. The photographs, paintings, and old cameras on display were all created by family members. Truly impressive.

After checking in and resting, we walked to explore the covered bridges. First, we visited Baiyun Bridge. Though small, it is built against the mountain, with one end on a huge rock and the other on a high stone abutment, towering over the stream. It was built in the 28th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1902). It is a diagonal-brace wooden longitudinal-beam covered bridge, 8.34 meters long, 3.72 meters wide. The central bay has a double-eave gable-and-hip roof with lattice windows under the eaves and an octagonal caisson ceiling inside.

At one end of the bridge is Yunquan Temple. The temple gate couplet reads: “Flowing clouds in the sky create ever-changing paintings; spring water gushes silently, forever profound.” The temple is small and somewhat dilapidated, but the iron bell inside bears the inscription “32nd year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1604),” telling 420 years of change.

The most famous bridges in Yueshan are Rulong and Laifeng, which form the first of the “Eight Scenes of Juxi.” An ancient poem says: “Rulong and Laifeng, the two bridges, lock the waist of the East Brook. The moon’s heart and the Silver River cast green shadows; Jushui’s golden waves fall like crimson silk.”

Laifeng Bridge was built in the 18th year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1838). It consists of a stone arch and a covered section. The arch spans 15.5 meters with a rise of 5 meters, forming a thick, stable semicircle. The covered section is 30 meters long with 11 bays, 6 meters wide (three bays). The central bay has a shrine on the southwest side. The deck is paved with stone slabs, and the beam frame bears many ink inscriptions from the Cultural Revolution. A villager told us that the stone steps beside the bridge were original from its construction, while the covered section was renovated over the centuries.

Rulong Bridge should be the most beautiful bridge in Yueshan. It lies over Juxi Creek, its position linked to the mountain ridge behind, like a dragon’s head descending, hence the name “Like Dragon.” First built in the early Ming Dynasty, the current bridge was constructed in the 5th year of Tianqi in the Ming Dynasty (1625). It is about 28 meters long, 5 meters wide, with nine bays, integrating pavilion, terrace, tower, and attic. Breaking from common symmetry, it has a three-eave gable-and-hip bell tower at the east end, like a dragon’s head held high, exquisitely beautiful. Above the shrine in the center hangs a wooden plaque with the three bold characters “Rulong Bridge,” said to have been written by Wu Zhiqiu, an 8-year-old prodigy and son of the famous scholar Wu Maoxiu. It is said that the bridge is so majestic that it uses no nails at all.

Buchan Bridge is the most spectacular bridge in Yueshan Village. It is a single-arch stone bridge spanning Juxi Creek, standing quietly in the open fields. First built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, it was rebuilt in 1917. The semicircular arch spans 16.4 meters with a rise of 8 meters. The covered section is 50.2 meters long with 18 bays, 5.2 meters wide. The central bay and the two end bays have double-eave gable-and-hip roofs. The central bay features an octagonal caisson ceiling with a shrine.

On the way back, we saw the smallest covered bridge we had encountered so far, sitting alone in the fields. This miniature bridge is called Gangu (Straw Stalk) Bridge, one of the five remaining covered bridges in Yueshan Village.

Today we had to rush to Taishun, passing through Shouning, Ningde, Fujian, to see some covered bridges there. In the morning, we saw the guesthouse owner’s elderly father lighting a stove with at least four bottles of hot water to boil water. During breakfast, we chatted with Mama Wu and learned that he was her father-in-law, the owner’s grandfather, aged 97, very healthy. Seeing a photo on the dining room wall of CCTV interviewing the Yueshan Village Spring Festival Gala, Mama Wu pointed to herself and said she was the general director of that village gala. Amazing!

Leaving Yueshan Village, we drove along winding mountain roads toward Shouning. After a rough stretch of road under construction, we arrived in the quiet valley of Yuchuan Village, Longxi Township, where we saw Long Bridge (垅桥) perched on steep rocks on both sides of the stream, surrounded by dark mountain reflections on the water’s surface, giving it a rusty green hue. Built in the 4th year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1739), it is 22 meters long with a clear span of 11.8 meters, in a very steep and dangerous position.

On the road in Longxi Township, we encountered a newly built Longqi Bridge, with a large span and impressive presence.

Leaving Longxi, we entered Shouning, Fujian. I had expected rough roads in Fujian, but to my surprise, the mountain roads in Shouning were wider and smoother than in Zhejiang, driving much more comfortably. It was a pleasant shock. Following Provincial Highway 207, we soon arrived at Xiadang Township, Shouning. As soon as we entered the village parking lot, we were stunned by the breathtaking scenery and the clean, perfect village appearance—a true internet-famous spot.

At the village entrance, spanning a dangerous point where the stream narrows, stands the world’s longest existing single-span woven-beam wooden arch covered bridge—Luanfeng Bridge. It is very tall and imposing, named for its shape resembling a giant luan bird soaring with twin peaks. First built in the Ming Dynasty, it was rebuilt in the 5th year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty (1800) and repaired in 1965. It is the landmark of Xiadang Village, Xiadang Township. It is 47.6 meters long, 4.9 meters wide, with a span of 37.2 meters. The central bay uses ruyi dougong brackets to form an octagonal caisson ceiling, with a shrine dedicated to Lady Linshui.

Despite mid-October, the weather was still hot. I wanted to buy a cup of coffee while strolling through the village to refresh myself, but couldn’t find any. Then I noticed a bright red-fronted tea shop called “Xiadang Red” by the parking lot, so we went in for tea. A fair-skinned, refined young woman brewed tea for us while explaining its qualities. After two rounds, we bought some specialty black tea and added the shop’s WeChat public account—couldn’t let the young lady’s hard work go unrewarded, haha.

Due to time constraints, we skipped Zhangkeng Bridge and Changlai Creek Bridge in Qinyang Township and headed directly to Xixi Township.

Shengxian Bridge, in Xianfeng Village, Xixi Township, was built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, adjacent to the Yongle Palace built in Kangxi period. As it lies at the village’s water outlet, with the bridge and palace connected, locals call it “Shuiwei Palace” or “Gongqiaotou.”

Fushou Bridge, in the south of Xixi Village, Xixi Township, has an unknown original construction date. It was rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty, but was destroyed by floods during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It was rebuilt again in the 19th year of Jiaqing (1814). It is 40.7 meters long, 4.9 meters wide, with a span of 32.8 meters. The bridge is 15 meters above the water, quite imposing when viewed from below. The central eastern side has a shrine: in the middle is Guanyin, on the right is the Great Emperor, and on the left is Lady Linshui. Beside the bridge on the streamside is a large-scale Guanyin Hall. When we visited, a Taoist priest in a green robe was performing a ritual in the main hall, striking a bell and shaking a rattle, practicing the “Yu step”—quite a sight.

Taishun county town is almost adjacent to Shouning. After entering Taishun, we first went to Yuwen Bridge.

Yuwen Bridge was first built in the 19th year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1839). Though not large, it is very elegant: 23 meters long, 4 meters wide, single span of 7.6 meters, with 6 bays and a three-story tower. The second floor is the Wenchang Pavilion. With upturned eaves, a balanced structure, and unique design, the sides are not simple wooden panels but finely crafted lattice wood carvings, adding refinement. Surrounded by ancient pines and flowing water, it exudes an antique grace. One end of the bridge connects to Taiyin Palace, dedicated to Taiyin Shengmu, i.e., Chen Jinggu, also known as Lady Linshui, widely worshipped in southern Zhejiang, Fujian, and Taiwan.

Santiao Bridge is relatively close to Yuwen Bridge but not easy to reach. We navigated to Xitou Village. At the village entrance, we met a young village official who said Santiao Bridge was not in the village—we needed to drive to the end of the mountain road. So we continued winding upward until the road ended at a solitary house. The owner was working in the field next to the house. When asked, he told us to follow the ancient stone path. It felt like a replay of the Songxuan ancient road. Our group walked down the winding stone path overgrown with weeds for about 20 minutes. At a turn, we saw Santiao Bridge in the distance, lonely and spanning the mountain stream.

Santiao Bridge is the earliest documented bridge in Taishun County. It was originally built using three giant logs as main beams across the stream, hence the name “Three Beams Bridge.” First built on the 13th day of the 9th month in the 7th year of Shaoxing in the Song Dynasty (1137 AD), it was rebuilt in the 23rd year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1843). According to the “Fenjiang Lu · Construction · Ferries and Bridges,” “Santiao Bridge is in the 7th district. This bridge is the most ancient, tens of zhang long, with a roof like a rainbow. Overlooking the stream, it was gradually falling into disrepair. During the Daoguang period, a villager surnamed Su single-handedly rebuilt it. When removing old tiles, some bore the Zhenguan reign mark,” leading some to speculate it might have been built in the Tang Dynasty. Santiao Bridge is a stacked-beam wooden arch covered bridge, 26.63 meters long, 4 meters wide, 10 meters above water, with 11 bays. The central bay has five-beam columns with butterfly-shaped lotus petal bracket capitals.

A bridge needs water to be spirited, but unfortunately, small hydropower stations everywhere had reduced the stream’s flow. The dry rocks and empty valley made Santiao Bridge feel especially lonely.

On the way to Sankui Town, where we planned to stay overnight, we encountered a newly built covered bridge—Xiyang Bridge. This was the second time we encountered the name “Xiyang,” which seemed odd. Though the craftsmanship was decent, it was a new bridge, so we just took a photo and went on to see Yongqing Bridge near Sankui Town.

Yongqing Bridge is a cantilever beam flat covered bridge, built in the 2nd year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty (1797). It is 33 meters long, 4.5 meters wide, 8 meters above water, with 12 bays. The middle section is a two-story double-eave pavilion dedicated to Guanyin, with an internal staircase. The roof has upturned eaves, simple and elegant, with white trim against the black tiles, and a double-dragon playing with a pearl motif in the center.

Sometimes luck is important. Originally, we planned to stay at a guesthouse near Xuezhai Bridge, but when booking, we saw another guesthouse called Xiuxi that was newer and booked it. Upon check-in, the owner told us they had renovated just before the Chinese New Year and installed an elevator—the only guesthouse in town with one. Haha, that saved us the trouble of carrying luggage up stairs.

After resting, we went out for dinner. The guesthouse owner kindly recommended a local favorite restaurant. When he learned we were visiting bridges, he told us about a large covered bridge being built nearby. A skilled craftsman in town had initiated the project and persisted for years, moving the public to donate generously. Over 10 million yuan had been invested, and the surrounding corridors were funded by the government. Though not yet completed, it had already received a Guinness World Record. A bridge with quite a story.

Early in the morning, we walked along Sankui Town’s main street looking for breakfast. We had a Cantonese-style rice noodle roll, then went to see Xuezhai Bridge.

Xuezhai Bridge is a woven-beam wooden arch bridge. It was first built in the 7th year of Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty (1512), and was rebuilt multiple times after flood damage. It was rebuilt again in the 6th year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty. On September 15, 2016, it was washed away by the floods of Typhoon Meranti. In 2017, the salvaged bridge components were used to rebuild it in its original style. It is 51 meters long, 5.1 meters wide, with a single span of 29 meters, 10.5 meters above water, with 15 bays and a single-eave roof. The bridge approach has a 30-meter slope, and the arch has a relatively steep angle, giving it a simple yet unique shape and a majestic presence.

After checking out, we went to Liuzhai’s “Xian Dong Hong Qiao” (Immortal Cave Rainbow Bridge). We chatted with villagers near the Liu Ancestral Hall, which flew flags with the characters “Han” and “Liu.” They claimed to be descendants of Liu Bang. Unfortunately, the hall was locked, and we couldn’t enter.

Liuzhai Bridge was first built in the 3rd year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1405), underwent three major renovations, and was renovated again in the 41st year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1776), still preserving Ming Dynasty features. It is 24.8 meters long, 6.15 meters wide, with a span of 9.2 meters, 3.5 meters above water. The bridge has two stories with eight bays. Both end bays have double-eave pavilions with gable-and-hip roofs. The two-story double eaves and staggered corners demonstrate its exquisite craftsmanship, surpassing other wooden flat bridges.

Since we had already seen many stepping-stone bridges these days, we skipped Shiyang Town and headed directly to Guihu Town, bordering Zherong County in Fujian.

In the central Guihu Covered Bridge Cultural Park stands Guihu Covered Bridge, officially completed on New Year’s Day 2012. It was built entirely using traditional wooden arch bridge techniques, with a single span of 40.3 meters, breaking the record for the largest single-span wooden arch covered bridge previously held by the Ming Dynasty Lanxi Bridge in Qingyuan. The lake beneath the bridge is shallow in the middle and deep on both sides, shaped like a turtle shell, with nine stone turtles lying there, corresponding to the local legend of “Nine Turtles Fall into the Ocean, Three Appear and Three Hide.” At the front of the lake is a rugged, steep canyon, with a huge naturally formed boulder at its mouth. From above, it looks like a divine turtle gazing at the moon.

Leaving Guihu, we drove to Yayang, originally planning to see Pubin Bridge in Yangxi Village, but we were turned away—no vehicles allowed—so we gave up and went to Duntou Village instead.

Duntou Bridge, in Liufeng Township, Duntou Village, is small and hidden among old houses. Its construction date is unknown, but the ridge beam records a rebuilding in the 12th year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1832). It is 16.36 meters long, 4.49 meters wide, with a span of 8.7 meters, 1.6 meters above water.

Leaving Duntou, we passed another newly built covered bridge.

Today we stayed in Sixi Town, an important hub for Taishun’s covered bridges. Compared to my visit many years ago, it was more developed and commercialized. We chose a guesthouse near the famous Beijian Bridge. Because one booked room had issues, the handsome young owner upgraded us to a premium Japanese-style tatami room. From the window, we could faintly see Beijian Bridge through the large camphor trees.

After resting, we went to see Beijian Bridge, the most famous of Taishun’s covered bridges. It ranks first among Taishun’s 15 national-level protected covered bridges and is hailed as “the most beautiful covered bridge in the world.” Seeing it again after many years, I was still awestruck. It is a stacked-beam wooden arch covered bridge, entirely made of wood. First built in the 13th year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1674), renovated in the 8th year of Jiaqing (1803), and rebuilt in the 29th year of Daoguang (1849). The bridge is 51.87 meters long, 5.39 meters wide, with a clear span of 29 meters, 20 bays, and 84 pillars. The deck is reinforced with two layers of inch-thick wooden planks. The east end, locally called “bridge head,” is higher, with 16 stone steps. There are shops and tea houses, and originally a stage, serving as an important venue for villagers’ leisure and celebrations. Because Beijian Bridge’s piers are high and it is located at the confluence of two streams, it appears as a rainbow. The grey tiles and red body, flying eaves and animal motifs, the ancient trees beside, the two rivers meeting below with crystal-clear water, and the stepping-stone bridge zigzagging to the opposite bank—all create a picturesque scene with green hills, clear water, rainbow bridge, and ancient trees.

We walked to its sister bridge, Xidong Bridge, also called Upper Bridge. First built in the 4th year of Longqing in the Ming Dynasty (1570), it is 42 meters long, the covered section 10 meters high, with a clear span of 31 meters. It has a double-eave roof, with 12 corners rising high. Against the distant green hills, it stands out like a splash of red, like an immortal isolated from the world.

Beside Xidong Bridge stands a historic ancient building, Sixi Linshui Hall, dedicated to Lady Chen Shisi—Shuntian Shengmu Chen Jinggu. Linshui Hall was first built in the 37th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1609) and expanded in the 23rd year of Guangxu (1897). The entire building features carved beams and painted rafters, exquisite craftsmanship, and a rustic elegance. The stunning caisson ceiling of the main hall rises in seven layers, each with different patterns and decorations, using both painting and relief, resembling a blooming lotus—perhaps symbolizing the seven-tiered pagoda?

We crossed the stepping-stone bridge to the opposite bank for dinner. Then it was time for the Beijian Bridge’s evening light show, which was magnificent but felt a bit too flashy, clashing somewhat with the landscape.

In the morning, I went alone to the stream to enjoy the quiet appearance of Beijian Bridge. A thousand-year-old Chinese tallow tree and a 1,200-year-old camphor tree were still lush. A young woman was already posing for photos on the stepping stones, and a local resident was walking his two dogs. Peaceful and harmonious.

For breakfast, I chose Taishun’s specialty “yanpi” (swallow skin) wontons. The skin felt a bit tough, not as good as Fujian’s. The wonton shop was by the bridge on the stream. On the white wall of the bridge were clearly marked water levels from Typhoons Talim in 2005 and Meranti in 2016. The levels were terrifying—when I stood at bridge level, the water mark was above my head, showing how severe the floods were, and why three covered bridges were destroyed.

Today we continued touring Taishun. As the earliest place in China to initiate covered bridge protection, Taishun has 15 nationally protected covered bridges, half of all nationally protected ones in the country. We had already seen seven; today we would see the remaining seven (Pubin Bridge was skipped).

Nanyang Bridge is near Sixi, in Dayang Village, Sixi Town. It is a one-pier, two-span cantilever beam wooden flat covered bridge, built in the 9th year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1870). It is 41.7 meters long, 4.6 meters wide. A pier was built in the stream, with a water-splitting pointed edge on the upstream side. Stone beams were cantilevered layer by layer to form the pier. Inside the covered section, there is a huge wooden beam, origin unknown, engraved with the Eight Trigrams and the inscription “Built in the 11th year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1872), eighth month, day of Yichou.”

Beside Nanyang Bridge is a Wuxian Temple, surrounded by village houses, brightly painted.

Xiaguang Bridge is considered the loneliest covered bridge in Taishun. Because of convenient roads nearby, it is rarely visited. Xiaguang Bridge was first built in the 1st year of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty (1723), with repairs during Xianfeng and Tongzhi. It is 17.26 meters long, 4.42 meters wide, with a span of 13.2 meters. The stone arch is a crescent shape, its graceful lines reflected in the clear water. The roof is double-eave, with slightly protruding and upturned eaves, giving the roof a dynamic look from a distance and a flying feel up close. The entire bridge gives a sense of softness, lightness, and elegance. The dead tree beside it, covered in moss, adds an indescribable ancient loneliness.

At Chiyuan Village, a newly built covered bridge spanned the stream, apparently still under construction. Called Guangxian Bridge, it had high piers, with pavilions at the center and both ends, double-eave upturned corners, quite imposing.

Chiyuan Bridge, a nationally protected bridge in the village, is very small: 21 meters long, 4.3 meters wide, span 9.5 meters. Its construction date is unknown. It was destroyed by floods in the 2nd year of Xianfeng (1852) and rebuilt in the 7th year of Xianfeng (1857). Unfortunately, new village houses have been built right next to it, creating a disharmonious scene and diminishing its charm. Only the window lattice design is quite unique.

Next was the bridge considered the most cultured—Wenchong Bridge. First built during the Jianwen period of the early Ming Dynasty, it was funded by Lin Yu (courtesy name Wenchong), a worthy man of the Lin family in Dongyang Village. Over the centuries, Wenchong Bridge was repeatedly destroyed by major floods and rebuilt each time by five Lin scholars with their own funds, hence it is rightly called the most cultured covered bridge. In 2016, it was washed away again by Typhoon Meranti, then rebuilt in 2017 using salvaged components. The current bridge is a single-pier, two-span stone pier wooden beam covered bridge, 27.5 meters long, 4.2 meters wide, with a clear span of 22.4 meters. The eaves are gable-and-hip at both ends, and the central beams are slightly raised, with a hanging mountain roof.

On the way to Wenxing Bridge, we saw the newly built Wenhong Bridge, but didn’t examine it closely.

We arrived at Wenxing Bridge, another that had been destroyed by Typhoon Meranti and rebuilt. It was restored to its original style, preserving its unique asymmetrical structure. Wenxing Bridge was built in the 7th year of Xianfeng (1857). It is 40.2 meters long, 5 meters wide. Apart from its one-side-higher-than-the-other structure, it is notable for enshrining Liu, Guan, and Zhang from the Three Kingdoms’ Peach Garden Oath—a rare sight, as most covered bridges in Chuzhou, Wenzhou, and eastern Fujian are dedicated to Guanyin or Lady Linshui.

Leaving Xiaocun Town, we went to Panyang Village, Nanpu Creek Town, where Fuqing Bridge is located. First built in 1848, originally named Jixia Bridge, it was destroyed by floods twice and rebuilt with donations from locals and society. The current Fuqing Bridge was rebuilt in 2020, preserving the original appearance. It is 154.4 meters long, with four piers, three spans, and three eaves. The surrounding eaves rise high, like a rainbow across the wide lake, with white clouds, blue sky, green mountains, clear water, and the rainbow bridge reflecting each other.

Next was Xianju Bridge in Luoyang Town. First built in the Ming Dynasty, the existing bridge was constructed in the 12th year of Kangxi (1673). It is high and arching, with wind-and-rain panels painted gray-black on one side and rust red on the other. It is 42.83 meters long, 5.30 meters wide, 12.6 meters above water, with a clear span of 34.50 meters. It is the oldest and longest-span wooden arch bridge among Taishun’s existing covered bridges.

In 2018, Lingxia Yongding Bridge in Luoyang Town, Taishun, held a completion ceremony, adding a new member to the Taishun covered bridge family. The bridge is 35 meters long, 5.5 meters wide, about 15 meters above water, with a single span of 17.2 meters, 11 bays, and a triple-eave structure. It is made mainly of cryptomeria and fir, constructed strictly according to traditional procedures of notching, pressing, threading, and inserting, without any iron nails—all wooden tenon-and-mortise joints.

Beside the bridge, a Shuiwei Palace (water-end temple) was under construction, with carved beams and painted rafters, intricate workmanship.

Today we chose to stay at a tulou (earthen building) guesthouse on the edge of Taishun county town. Jiaoyang Tulou, also known as “Canglou,” was built during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty by the Zeng clan, who moved from Tong’an, Fujian to Shangjiao Yang Village. Using the tulou building techniques brought from Fujian, they constructed a square, corridor-style earthen building. Inside, it follows a traditional courtyard layout with gate, wings, and main hall, with roofs interconnected. Since the National Day tourist peak had passed, we had the entire courtyard to ourselves, very quiet and pleasant.

Today we would return from Taishun to Jingning, Lishui, and stay overnight in Daji.

First stop: Lingbei in Luoyang Town to see Tongle Bridge. This is the first covered bridge in Taishun funded by local donations and built using traditional wooden arch bridge techniques, with the national intangible cultural heritage inheritor Dong Zhiji as the master carpenter. Completed in 2006, it is 34 meters long, with a span of 23 meters, 8 meters high, 5.2 meters wide, and a bull’s-head decoration of 5.8 meters. The covered section has three stories, more ornate than traditional ones, with three layers of dougong brackets in various forms such as orchid-flower and square brackets. The side panels are carved with dragons and phoenixes. To pass on the thousand-year bridge-building technique and recreate the charm of ancient covered bridges, no modern equipment or methods were allowed during construction—only a small ink marker and simple tools, with no iron nails, all wooden tenon-and-mortise.

Another bridge is Tongqing Bridge, built in 2004, also completed by the elderly Dong Zhiji, entirely using traditional wooden tenon-and-mortise joints. It spans Lingbei Creek, with a three-story covered section, 20 upturned corners, and carved dragon and phoenix panels.

Passing Makeng, we came to Yuexia Bridge, located in the middle of the village. It is not large, built in the 1st year of the Republic of China (1912). The bridge was filled with villagers’ harvested soybeans and other crops, serving as a drying ground.

Makeng also has another bridge built in 1912, Zhangxia Bridge, inconspicuous by the roadside and rather dilapidated, hidden by a large camphor tree, similarly piled with villagers’ drying crops and tools.

Dongkeng Town, adjacent to Makeng, is the area with the densest concentration of covered bridges in Jingning. There are two wooden arch covered bridges: Dongkeng Upper Bridge and Dongkeng Lower Bridge, one in the south and one in the north, spanning the stream, echoing each other, known as “Sister Twin Bridges.”

Dongkeng Upper Bridge, also called Guanyin Pavilion Bridge, was first built in the early Qing Dynasty. The existing structure was renovated in the 8th year of Tongzhi (1869). It is 23.7 meters long, 6.2 meters wide, with a clear span of 18.7 meters.

Dongkeng Lower Bridge was built in the 28th year of Kangxi (1689), also named Qing’an Bridge. It is 24.31 meters long, 4.6 meters wide, with a clear span of 21.75 meters. It is the oldest existing wooden arch covered bridge in Jingning County.

A new covered bridge in Dongkeng is Tongxin Bridge, also a woven-beam arch. Though lacking the weight and antiquity of old bridges, its shape is very elegant.

At Zhangkeng Village, directly opposite the village’s Cultural Revolution-era assembly hall, stands Huaisheng Bridge, also called Lulong Bridge. Its construction date is unknown, but a beam records it as built in the 1st year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1875). It is 28 meters long, 4 meters high, a single span with double-eave upturned corners on both sides.

Today’s most thrilling stop was Zhangkeng Jielong Bridge. We parked by the roadside, followed a small sign onto an ancient stone path again, walked about 700–800 meters, turned a corner, and saw the Baibe Power Station on a cliff. A narrow mountain stream passed through, and ahead, a covered bridge high and spanning the Feiyun River Gorge, like a lying dragon—Jielong Bridge. It was breathtaking, comparable to Santiao Bridge. Jielong Bridge was first built in the Xuantong period of the Qing Dynasty, with the existing structure from the 6th year of the Republic of China (1917). It is 38 meters long, 4.5 meters wide, with a wooden arch height of 19.6 meters, clear span 19.6 meters. It cleverly uses natural rock at both ends as foundations. The bridge rises steeply, quite imposing, with a simple exterior and simple internal structure. Accompanied by distant mountains, green bamboo, and clear water, it lies quietly on the gorge.

At 3:30 PM, we arrived at tonight’s stop—Cloud-Shrouded Daji (Yunzhong Daji). The measured altitude was over 1,000 meters. Our guesthouse was at the village entrance, right by the parking lot, very convenient. After resting, we planned to visit the famous Shisi Temple. At the gate, the ticket seller told us it was closing time and to come back tomorrow. It was still before 5 PM, and I tried to negotiate, but the man seemed impatient, so we gave up. I took a few photos of the giant cryptomeria tree (Liushan Wang) outside.

We turned to Huguan Bridge beside the temple. Built in the 46th year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1782), it is a two-span flat bridge, 26 meters long, 3 meters wide, 2.5 meters high, with a three-story, three-eave architectural form. From a distance, it looks like a bridge and a pavilion combined. From bottom to top: Guandi Temple, Wenchang Pavilion, and Kuixing Tower. The first floor is Guandi Temple, with Guan Yu in the center and the God of Wealth on the sides, symbolizing “Guan Yu guards the pass, the God of Wealth brings treasure.” Unfortunately, the second-floor Wenchang Pavilion and third-floor Kuixing Tower were locked, so we couldn’t enter.

While it was still light, we strolled around the village. There is a Hu Bridge in the village. Hu Bridge looks quite different from typical covered bridges—it is square and rectangular. If it weren’t built across a stream, it could almost be mistaken for a house. It is a type of raised-beam wooden structure unique to the southwestern Zhejiang mountains, 17.4 meters long, 17.2 meters wide, with a span of 10 meters. First built in the Ming Dynasty, some parts were rebuilt in the 23rd year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty and in modern times. Hu Bridge is a rare square covered bridge, with a stage and shops inside. In old times, people in Daji would exchange goods here, such as eggs for salt, serving not only as transportation but also for trade, social interaction, and cultural entertainment.

Beside the Weiling Baodian (a temple) in the village, there is a small covered bridge called Longxi Bridge, hidden in the lush trees.

Dinner was at a guesthouse by the lotus pond, where we had a big pot of free-range chicken and a big pot of pickled fish. The taste was very authentic. By the time we finished, the moon was already high.

Early in the morning after breakfast, we went straight to Shisi Temple. Shisi Temple was first built in the 10th year of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty (1140). It was originally a守墓庐 (tomb-guarding hut) for Mei Yuanxi. In the 1st year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1368), Liu Ji wrote the plaque “Shisi Daochang.” In the 1st year of Xuande in the Ming Dynasty (1426), it was converted from a hermitage to a temple.

The mountain gate of Shisi Temple is very small. Behind the ancient wooden plaque with black background and gold characters “Shisi Temple,” two ancient cypress trees, one lying and one standing, twisted and gnarled, instantly exude an ancient atmosphere.

First, we visited the Mei Family Ancestral Hall beside the giant cryptomeria. Built in the Ming Dynasty, it consists of a gate, side rooms, Xulun Hall, an altar, and Baoben Hall, with square pillars, large beams, dougong brackets, and carved beams. The entire building is arranged along a central axis, with four progressively deeper one-story structures, two sets of gates, each hall higher and wider than the previous one.

Turning to the adjacent Shisi Temple, we sensed a different stillness compared to other temples. There were no Buddha statues, no incense, yet one could still feel its unique religious and cultural atmosphere. On the right was the wooden structure Main Hall (Daxiong Baodian) built in the late Yuan Dynasty. On the left was the Ma Xian Hall, now only wooden columns and eaves remaining, with beautifully carved beam arches and caissons. On the right was a three-story pagoda-like wooden structure with a gable-and-hip roof, the Heart Sutra Bell Tower from the Ming Dynasty. The entire complex preserves the styles of the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Some say it is a rare ancient architectural group where “Song, Ming, and Qing coexist, and Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism share the same furnace.” Aptly described.

The sudden popularity of the game “Black Myth: Wukong” made Shisi Temple, one of its filming locations, instantly hot. During our visit, we met two young men who, when asked, said they were game fans who came because of “Black Myth: Wukong.”

Leaving Shisi Temple, my companions wanted to go to Xuehua Falls. Since I had been there years ago and didn’t want to walk far, I went alone to a coffee shop opposite Shisi Temple, ordered a double-espresso latte, and sat to observe the temple from a distance while chatting with the young owner. According to him, after “Black Myth: Wukong” became a hit, many people came to Shisi Temple, with the farthest visitor from Singapore, just to see this filming location.

Leaving Daji, we drove through mountain roads straight into the heart of Jingning. Tonight’s accommodation was in Lusi Township, Jingning. Because it is relatively remote, we couldn’t find hotels or guesthouses online, so before the trip, we called the Jingning County Office and the Culture and Tourism Bureau, who transferred us to a contact in Lusi Township government, and we finally secured a guesthouse. Quite a roundabout process, haha.

Passing by the “Sky City on the Cliff” (Nayun Resort) in Dajun Township, we saw a very grand large covered bridge. We wanted to photograph the bridge from the stepping stones in the stream within the resort, but the gate guard told us we needed to pay a 185-yuan admission fee. What a rip-off! We gave up and found a small path from another direction to the pebble-strewn stream.

This newly built eight-arch covered bridge is Shanshui Bridge, arching high over the wide stream, magnificent.

At Dachikeng Village, Dajun Township, Dachikeng Bridge lies quietly over Chikeng Creek. Built in the 15th year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty (1810) and rebuilt in 1923, it is 36.4 meters long, 5 meters wide, with a clear span of 30 meters and a rise of 6 meters. Both ends use natural rock as abutments, with large span and high rise, imposing. The arched bridge is like a flying rainbow, simple and handsome.

Next was the high-mountain ancient village Gaoyan Village, sitting at nearly 800 meters elevation in the Donggong Mountains. It is famous for “Huan Sheng Three Bridges, Nine People, Ten Gong Sheng” (a reference to scholars). The road wound up with eighteen bends, and at the end we finally reached Gaoyan, truly living up to its name “high.”

Gaoyan Village is predominantly surnamed Ren. In the 19th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1421), 8-year-old Ren Ji (first-generation ancestor of the Ren family in Gaoyan) came to Gaoyan with his mother after his father’s death. Nearly 600 years later, the lineage has extended to 22 generations.

The village retains many traditional earth-and-wood houses. What the villagers are most proud of is the “Fengshui Three Bridges.” During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, Ren Jingcheng, the seventh generation of the Ren family, had three wooden covered bridges built at the village’s water outlet as advised by a fengshui master, to accumulate fengshui energy through the three water gates, forming the “Three Bridges Linking Wonders” landscape. An ancient poem “Three Bridges Linking Wonders” reads: “Among endless mountains and waters, connected bridges lock a single village. Multi-story buildings view the water mouth, fine structures meet the forest mound. The scene rivals Peach Blossom Spring, the wind truly ancient and honest; circling like a tripod, arching to guard the heavy gate.”

Closest to the village is Huansheng Bridge, built in the 7th year of Qianlong (1742), rebuilt in the 3rd year of Guangxu (1877). It is a three-story, three-eave pavilion-style flat-beam covered bridge, 30.6 meters long, 5.65 meters wide, 10 meters high, with a clear span of 3.55 meters. The main three bays have double-eave gable-and-hip roofs. The top floor is Kuixing Tower, the second floor houses Wenchang, and the first floor was a private school in the center, with corridors on both sides. It is rare to have both sacrificial and teaching spaces in one covered bridge.

Not far from the village entrance is Huilong Bridge, built during the Qianlong period (1736–1795). It is 21 meters long, 6 meters wide, surrounded by giant pines.

At the end of the road is Qingfeng Bridge, also built during the Qianlong period (1736–1795), a three-story, three-eave structure with an arc-shaped pond in front.

We originally planned to go to Dadi Township to see Lianchuan Dadi Bridge, but it was getting late, so we headed directly to Lusi Township. The guesthouse was right next to the township government building. The owner, Mr. Chen, had only two rooms, so I was taken to the neighbor’s house. When I went upstairs, it turned out to be the son’s wedding bedroom. Haha.

Sometimes fate is amazing. Originally, we chose Lusi Township as a stop for itinerary convenience, knowing little about it. But it turned out to be the hometown of Ma Xian, a divine figure. Quite magical.

After dropping our luggage, we went to pay respects to Ma Xian Niangniang. In a mountain hollow not far from the village, next to a hydropower station, stood the Ma Xian Ancestral Hall, grand in scale, with a large open space in front, obviously still under expansion.

According to the Tongzhi edition of “Jingning County Annals,” “Ma Xiaoxian’s house is in San Du, Lu Shan (also called Heng Shan) village, behind the ridge. It was built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1573–1620), originally a thatched cottage, later converted into a shrine.” After being flooded in 1912, it underwent several renovations and was rebuilt. The great flood of 1952 again submerged the Lusi Hall. The Ma Xian Ancestral Hall we saw was newly built in recent years. Under the plaque, a large horizontal board reading “Hu Guo You Min” (Protect the State and the People) is very striking. Inside, the statue of Ma Xian Niangniang is very tall, with a kind and serene face. The hall is richly decorated with carved beams, painted rafters, and colorful paintings.

The belief in Ma Xian originated in the Tang Dynasty, developed in the Song, and flourished in the Ming and Qing. There are many miraculous stories about her, spreading widely in southern Zhejiang and eastern Fujian. With over 1,400 years of history and more than 70 million adherents globally, it has been listed in the fourth batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The origin of Ma Xian is disputed, but she became an immortal through filial piety and was granted the title “Protector of the State Lady” for loyalty. The earliest record is the “Stele Inscription of the Temple of the Protector of the State Lady” by the Tang Dynasty Jinyun County magistrate Li Yangbing: “Lady Ma, the Protector of the State, is from Lusi, a subordinate town of Kuocang. The land is about 300 li from the county and prefecture, with deep sources and winding waters, high mountains and obstructing roads, monkeys and wolves flocking, and tigers following. The residents are few. The cormorant (lusi) water bird is good at catching fish, hence the name, which is the lady’s former residence.” Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin listed Ma Xian, Taimu Niangniang, Mazu, and Lady Linshui as the four great goddesses, granting Ma Xian the title “Yizheng Zhenren, to be listed in the sacrificial canon.” Song Taizong added “Protector of the State Jiayou True Immortal, erect statues for worship.” Song Zhenzong bestowed the titles “Lingze Ganying Ma Family Zhenren” and “Yizheng Guanghui Ma Family Zhenren.” Therefore, the most widely accepted story is that Ma Xian was from Lusi, with Lusi Township as her birthplace, while Zherong County in Fujian is her place of development. Every year on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, the Lusi “Qixi Ma Xian Temple Fair” is lively, attracting numerous pilgrims.

While leaving the ancestral hall, we saw a construction plan board at the site, indicating a large-scale project, suggesting significant investment.

Returning to the village, we visited ancient houses, most of which were dilapidated. In one house that seemed to have belonged to a wealthy family, we met an elderly woman. Chatting, she said the house was built by her grandfather. Now, with the government developing tourism, all old houses would be renovated. When asked why the township was named Lusi (Cormorant), she couldn’t explain. At the village entrance, we saw a sculpture and introduction about Lusi Village. From the peeling text, we gathered that Ma Xian’s father made a living by fishing with cormorants, hence the name “Lusi.”

Dinner was at Mr. Chen’s guesthouse. He used to run a restaurant elsewhere, so we trusted his cooking. The famous local dish of paddy-field carp was a must. When we tried to order more dishes, Mr. Chen repeatedly waved his hands, saying, “Five of you eating on your own, one fish hotpot plus three dishes is enough—don’t waste.” I saw a fragrant plate of just-cooked pork tripe on the stove and insisted on adding it. He kept saying, “Enough, enough, don’t waste.” I told him, “Money’s no issue; we’ll finish it.” He reluctantly added it. Haha, very amusing.

In the morning, I went downstairs and met the owner of the house where I stayed, who was having breakfast. I chatted with him. He was surprised I was staying there, saying he had seen us at the Ma Xian Ancestral Hall the previous afternoon. It turned out he worked at the hall, responsible for interpreting fortune sticks and divination. His family had been Taoist priests for three generations, so he inherited the trade. Haha.

We gathered at Mr. Chen’s guesthouse for breakfast—local specialty egg and rice noodle (fensi). It was absolutely amazing, incredibly delicious.

Leaving Lusi, we headed to Yunhe. The weather was overcast, and it seemed to have rained lightly the night before. Driving through the silent mountain roads, the unique post-rain air blew through the windows, refreshing us. At a slightly wider curve, we encountered a newly built Sixiang Bridge. After a brief stop, we continued to Shangnankan Village, now within Longquan’s territory.

Fushan Bridge is located at the water outlet at the end of Shangnankan Village. Built in the 30th year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1850), it is a single-span stone arch covered bridge, with a clear span of 7.6 meters, rise of 5 meters, total length 23.1 meters, width 3.69 meters. The central bay rises with a double-eave gable-and-hip roof. In the middle of the bridge is a shrine for Guanyin, the Ping Shui Wang (Water Level King), and the Earth God. On one side of the bridge is “Huilong Temple,” its door locked, with beautifully painted door gods.

Along the roadside near a family farm raising Chinese sturgeon, we saw an unnamed covered bridge. We stopped briefly for photos.

Soon we arrived at Anren Town, Longquan. Here lies a national treasure-level covered bridge—Yonghe Bridge. I had visited years ago and enjoyed delicious Anren fish head at a small eatery beside the bridge.

Yonghe Bridge was first built in the 1st year of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty (1465), originally named Yongning Bridge. According to the “Longquan County Annals,” “Yonghe Bridge is in Anren, 22nd district east. The bridge is 39 zhang long, covered with over 40 bays. It was built by Liu Yanghuai and Xiang Shungong during the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, originally named Yongning. It was destroyed by fire in the early Qing Dynasty, and rebuilt in the 57th year of Kangxi (1718) with over 3,000 gold raised by Liu Can and Xiang Hao, renamed Yonghe.”

Yonghe Bridge spans the Anren Creek. It is a cantilever beam double-eave covered bridge with five piers and four spans, 126.3 meters long, 5.6 meters wide, 10.65 meters high. It is the longest existing covered bridge in southern Zhejiang. The stone piers rise high, with a three-bay, four-hanging, seven-story wooden tile-roofed archway at each end connecting to the covered section. In the middle is a double-eave gable-and-hip roof bridge pavilion with an octagonal caisson ceiling and a shrine. The deck is paved with carved stones and cobblestones, matching the carved beams and dougong brackets in exquisite harmony.

Unfortunately, it was too early for lunch, so we had to skip the Anren fish head this time. We continued to Yunhe. The road was good until we climbed higher, where fog grew thicker. Near Qixingdun, visibility was almost 10 meters. Our guesthouse was right below the Qixingdun viewing platform, with an excellent location. At 400 yuan per night, it was the most expensive of the trip, haha.

My room was on the second floor, with a viewing platform outside. But the fog was so thick that we couldn’t see anything. Hopefully, it would clear tomorrow.

As they say, sincerity works. At 5:15 the next morning, my alarm woke me. I looked outside and saw it was clear, with a faint bright streak at the horizon. I quickly got up, washed up, and went to the Qixingdun viewing platform. A few people were already there in the dim light.

Gradually, the red on the horizon brightened, revealing the outlines of distant mountains and clouds floating at mid-mountain. Soon, the clouds thickened and began to rise. Before long, the entire viewing platform was shrouded in fog. I thought it would be like yesterday again. Then, after a while, the sky was fully bright, and sunrise had clearly passed. Suddenly, a gap opened in the distant clouds, revealing a patch of blue sky. Sunlight streamed through the gap, and the fog receded somewhat. It was very beautiful. Though we missed the sunrise and terraced fields, the sea of clouds was enough to satisfy my heart. Thus, our covered bridge journey came to a perfect end.

Table of Contents:

1. Covered Bridge Essays (Stop 1: Hu Town, Jinyun)

2. Covered Bridge Essays (Stop 2: Songyang Ancient Village)

3. Covered Bridge Essays (Stop 3: Songyang Ancient Village)

4. Covered Bridge Essays (Stop 4: Longquan Covered Bridges)

5. Covered Bridge Essays (Stop 5: Qingyuan Covered Bridges)

6. Covered Bridge Essays (Stop 6: Qingyuan Covered Bridges)

7. Covered Bridge Essays (Stop 7: Shouning Covered Bridges)

8. Covered Bridge Essays (Stop 8: Taishun Covered Bridges)

9. Covered Bridge Essays (Stop 9: Taishun Covered Bridges)

10. Covered Bridge Essays (Stop 10: Jingning Covered Bridges)

11. Covered Bridge Essays (Stop 11: Jingning Covered Bridges)

12. Covered Bridge Essays (Stop 12: Lishui Yunhe)

Travel Information:

Hotel Index

Guide Index

Flight Index

Website Navigation

Travel Index

Cruise Index

Corporate Travel Index

Partnership

Distribution Alliance

Friendship Links

Corporate Gift Card Purchase

Insurance Agency

Agency Cooperation

Hotel Franchise

Destination and Scenic Area Cooperation

More Partnerships

About Ctrip:

About Ctrip

Ctrip Hot Topics

Contact Us

Careers

User Agreement

Privacy Policy

Business License

Safety Center

Ctrip Content Center

Intellectual Property

Trip.com Group Algorithm Disclosure