Taihsun Long Bridge Introduction
The Zhejiang Taishun Covered Bridges are a collective term for the covered bridges located in Taishun County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, with wooden arch bridges at their core. There are more than 30 ancient covered bridges from the Ming and Qing Dynasties still existing in Taishun, and due to their large number and diverse forms, Taishun is known as the "Kingdom of Covered Bridges" and the "Hometown of Covered Bridges" in China. The covered bridges of Taishun serve as tangible evidence of Chinese local culture, with bridge structures resembling the Bianwa Rainbow Bridge depicted in the famous Northern Song Dynasty painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival." For hundreds of years, the people of Taishun have referred to the covered bridges as "Centipede Bridges," which are primarily constructed with a wooden arch structure and built using mortise and tenon joints without the use of a single nail. This unique craftsmanship has been listed as one of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The combination of covered houses with the wooden arch structure imparts additional functions to the covered bridges beyond basic transportation, such as providing structural support for the arch, shielding from wind and rain, protecting the wooden bridges, serving as rest areas, offering spaces for folk religious beliefs, and serving as venues for gatherings, exchanges, and trade. Currently, visitors can admire the style of the Zhejiang Taishun Covered Bridges at Wuchang Temple in Jiji Township, Nantou County. This covered bridge is constructed in the style of the "Beijian Bridge in Lower Qixi Town" and features a statue of Yue Lao, the God of Love, at its center, inviting those seeking a fulfilling love life to cross the bridge and sincerely pray for good relationships.
