：：About Zhaozhou bridge：：Chinese introduces

zhaozhoubridge

zhaozhoubridge,zhaozhouqiao,chinese bridge
  • Zhaozhou Bridge is located in the famous historic and cultural Zhao County. Zhaozhou Bridge with over 1400 years of history, is the earliest built, best�preserved arch stone bridge in the world. After the foundation of PRC, the Government has renovated the relics respectively and made it good place for sightseeing. 
  • Zhaozhou Bridge, located 40km (25 miles) southwest of Shijiazhuang, was built between 596-605AD by the stonemason Li Chun. The bridge is one of the oldest stone arch bridges in China. The bridge spans the Jiao River and is 50 meters (164ft) long and 10 meters (33ft) wide. The balustrades are beautifully decorated with dragons and other mythical creatures. Zhaozhou Bridge is remarkable more because it has survived the centuries rather than for its beauty. 

zhaozhoubridge,zhaozhouqiao,chinese bridge

zhaozhoubridge,zhaozhouqiao,chinese bridge

  •   The Zhaozhou Bridge crosses the Jiaohe River in the Hebei Province of China and is the country's oldest standing bridge. It is also the world's oldest open-spandrel arch bridge. There are smaller arches at each end of the bridge that transmit the load of the deck down to the main arch. The open spandrels allow some water to flow over the main arch when the river floods. The Zhaozhou Bridge was designed and constructed during the Sui dynasty by the master architect and stonemason, Li Chun. It has a span length of 122.6 feet and a total length of 167 feet. The rise is only 23.9 feet, providing a low profile. It is comprised of 28 thin, curved limestone slabs, joined with iron dovetails so the arch could gently yield and adjust to the rise and fall of the abutments as they responded to the weight of traffic. The bridge remains in use today, though the balustrades (the ornamental posts and railings) have had to be replaced every 300 to 500 years. Zhao County, Hebei Province, China Constructed 595-605 Ancient Chinese literature refers to the Zhaozhou Bridge as a "crescent moon rising from the clouds" or a "rainbow in the sky." Throughout its history, it has been known as the Anchi or Anji Bridge (literally "safe crossing"), the Dashi Bridge ("big stone"), and the Dashiqiao ("great stone") Bridge.