Guangji Bridge is located outside the east gate of the ancient city of Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province, with a total length of 518 meters, across the Han River, connecting the east and west banks, integrating beam bridges, floating bridges and arch bridges, for the ancient Guangdong to Fujian and Zhejiang traffic points, is one of the eight scenic spots of Chaozhou, also known as Chaozhou Xiangzi Bridge, is the origin of the name of Xiangqiao District of Chaozhou City, and Lugou Bridge, Zhaozhou Bridge, Luoyang Bridge and called China's four ancient bridges, was hailed by bridge expert Mao Yi as "the world's earliest open and closed bridge".
Chaozhou Guangji Bridge
Guangji Bridge was built in the seventh year of the Southern Song Dynasty (1171, it has a history of more than 800 years); In the ninth year of Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty (1530 AD), the pattern of "eighteen shuttle ships and twenty-four continents" was formed; dilapidated before liberation; In 1958, reinforcement repairs were carried out, and 18 shuttle boats were dismantled and converted into three-hole steel frames and two high-pile pile platform bridges; In October 2003, a comprehensive repair began, and the overall restoration was based on the Ming Dynasty style, and the function was positioned as a tourist pedestrian bridge; Completed in 2007.
The platform of Guangji Bridge
Xiangzi Bridge is the world's first open-closed pontoon bridge, combining girder bridge and pontoon bridge: the eastern and western sections of the bridge are fixed girder bridges, and the middle section is a pontoon bridge connected by eighteen shuttle boats - if a large ship passes by the river, the eighteen shuttle boats will separate to allow it to pass. The original appearance was a pontoon bridge connected by eighteen shuttle boats, and only a stone island was built in the center of the river, dividing the pontoon bridge into two parts, east and west, so that it could better withstand the impact of the current. Later, some piers were built and pavilions were built on each of the east and west sections, and the middle section was still connected by pontoon boats, and has been repaired many times since then. Until the Ming Jiajing period, a pattern of "eighteen shuttle ships and twenty-four continents" was formed. Driven by the salt transport, a "bridge market" was formed here, with both business and monkey singing.
Eighteen shuttles
Guangji Bridge was listed as the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units.
As the saying goes: "If you reach the tide of the wide, you will go in vain; When the tide reaches the bridge, walk for nothing. "Guangji Bridge is open from February 1, 2023 to October 31, 2023, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with access to the bridge closed at 5 p.m. sharp; From November 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and weekends from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., access to the bridge will be closed at 4 p.m. daily. A ticket is required to enter the bridge, and one ticket is 20 yuan.
It is recommended to go to Guangji Bridge every morning and evening to see the pontoon bridge combined and closed bridge composed of eighteen shuttle boats in the middle of the bridge, and during the day, the management will drive the middle shuttle boat for passengers to play, and in the evening, the middle shuttle boat will be disassembled to let the cargo ships travel.
The Guangji Bridge is opening (closing).
The most important thing to come to Chaozhou is the light show of Guangji Bridge at night, you can go to the side of Linjiang Road in front of Guangji Building, that is, the west bank of Chaozhou to watch, weekends or statutory holidays at 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. each one, although only 10 minutes, but a very shocking light show, even the locals have praised!
Light show at Guangji Bridge
More trips to Chaoshan can be found in Ming'an Wule Chaoshan !!!