Taishun Covered Bridge Introduction
The Zhangqiao of Taishun in Zhejiang Province, China, refers to the wooden arch bridges found in Taishun County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang. There are over 30 ancient arch bridges from the Ming and Qing Dynasties still standing in Taishun. Due to their abundance and variety, Taishun is known as the "Kingdom of Arch Bridges" and "Hometown of Chinese Arch Bridges." The arch bridges of Taishun are physical testimonies of Chinese folk culture, and their structural design resembles the Bian River Rainbow Bridge depicted in the famous Northern Song painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival." For hundreds of years, the people of Taishun have referred to these arch bridges as "Centipede Bridges." Primarily constructed with a wooden arch structure, these bridges are built using a mortise and tenon joint system, without a single nail, a unique technique that has been listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The combination of corridor and wooden arch structures allows the bridges to serve not only basic transportation functions but also to provide structural support for the wooden arches, protect wooden flume bridges from wind and rain, offer resting places, serve as venues for folk beliefs, and facilitate gatherings and commercial exchanges. Currently, the Wuchang Palace in Jiji Township, Nantou County, allows visitors to observe the design of the Zhangqiao of Taishun. This arch bridge is modeled after the "Beijing Bridge" style from Xixiang Village in Taishun, where a statue of the God of Marriage, Yue Lao, is enshrined, inviting those seeking fulfilling love to step onto the bridge of love and sincerely pray to Yue Lao for a good marriage.
