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August 15, 2018

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Jinshan in push to preserve 10 ancient bridges

JINSHAN District has begun preserving 10 historic bridges in its industrial area, and dredging waterways beneath them to improve the district’s scenery.

The bridges date to nearly a century ago, and have been damaged due to lack of maintenance. The district government launched its renovation campaign after many other ancient bridges collapsed, the Jinshan officials said.

Bespoke preservation plans have been made for each of the bridges under the guidance of the district museum. The project also aims to stabilize the structures of some bridges that are still being used.

The Zhuhang area of Jinshan, which has become the district’s industrial quarter, was once home to a total of 67 ancient stone bridges. However, most of these were demolished during the city’s urbanization, especially during the establishment of the modern industrial zone a decade ago.

Two famous stone bridges, the Xiajia and Dongfeng, collapsed in March this year, triggering a massive online petition to protect the remaining structures.

The 10 remaining bridges made of granite are mainly in five villages. Most of them were built during the 1930s by local notables or rich businessmen, according to the zone’s management committee.

“These bridges have not only witnessed the development of the industrial zone, but also contain the sweat and wisdom of our ancestors as well as China’s traditional virtues,” said Zhang Min, an official with the committee.

The Nianxuan Bridge, for instance, was built by a Jinshan landlord named Fei Zhongpu in 1935 to commemorate his mother. The bridge in Huanxing Village was made with two granite blocks, each being 5.8 meter long and 1.1 meter wide.

The Yongmao Bridge in Yunhe Village was built in 1890 by a wealthy local family surnamed Xie as a gift that would benefit other villagers.

Stone tablets will be erected at each of the bridges after the preservation work to tell the history behind the historic structures, according to the committee.

Experts with the district’s museum and cultural heritage authority have been invited to evaluate the remaining bridges and made renovation plans to restore their original look. An initial investigation found some of the bridges have serious structural damage.

Meanwhile, the district’s water authority has launched a cleanup campaign on the waterways beneath the bridges.

Preservation work has already completed on two of the bridges, including the collapsed Xiajia Bridge and the Nianxuan Bridge, while creeks there have also been dredged.




 

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