Guangji Bridge, commonly known as the Long Bridge, is located in the northwest of Tangqi Town, spanning the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in a north-south direction. It resembles a rainbow resting on the waves and is one of the larger thin-pier arch stone bridges that have been preserved on the Grand Canal to this day. Climbing up from beneath the bridge, one feels as if ascending a mountain. Upon reaching the top of the bridge, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the ancient town.
The exact year of construction of the Guangji Bridge is untraceable; it is believed to have been built between the Tang Dynasty’s Baoli and Linde years. In the second year of the Hongzhi era during the Ming Dynasty, a monk with the surname Chen traveled to Beijing to raise funds for the bridge’s construction, receiving donations from the Empress Dowager as well as contributions from the imperial concubines and ministers. As recorded in the third volume of the ‘Tangqi Chronicles’ during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, ‘Bridges’: ‘Tongji Long Bridge is in Tangqi Town, built in the second year of Hongzhi.’ The bridge was completed in the eleventh year of Hongzhi. Over the subsequent five hundred years, the bridge has been continuously repaired and restored. Today, the bridge measures 78.7 meters in length, 5.2 meters in width, with a rise of 7.75 meters, and a clear span of 15.6 meters in the central arch. It has seven arches, with the arches constructed in a longitudinally linked, segmented masonry style.Guangji Bridge, a proud structure spanning over 500 years, stands majestically above the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. It serves as a testament to the historical changes and a symbol of the prosperity and flourishing of the Jiangnan region. The bridge has integrated the sounds of oars and boatmen’s calls into its 500-year history of bustling grain transport along the Grand Canal.
The bridge features two slopes, each adorned with 80 stone steps. The stone railings are simple yet elegant, with the ends of the railings capped by cloud pattern drum stones. In total, there are 64 such columns, with the four corner columns uniquely decorated with lotus carvings.
Today, Guangji Bridge remains open to visitors throughout the year, offering full-day access for all to appreciate its historical significance and architectural beauty.
