Fangsheng Bridge
Fangsheng Bridge is located at the midpoint of Dongjing Street in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, spanning the Caogang River. To its north was once the town of Jingting Port in Kunshan County, Jiangsu. In earlier times, the bridge facilitated travel and commerce between Shanghai and Jiangsu. After the founding of the People’s Republic, the area was incorporated into Qingpu County. The bridge was designated a county-level protected cultural relic in 1959 and elevated to municipal-level protection in 1987.
Fangsheng Bridge is a five-arch stone bridge—the largest, longest, and tallest five-arch stone bridge in the Shanghai area, earning it the title “No.1 Bridge in Shanghai.” It was built in the 5th year of the Longqing reign (1571) of the Ming dynasty, funded by the monk Xingchao from the renowned local Cimen Temple. The bridge thus has a history of over 450 years.
Building such a large bridge over a deep and fast-flowing river more than four centuries ago was a remarkable project. The bridge adopts ultra-thin, flexible piers to reduce the load on the main arch and save materials—an important consideration, as local stone had to be transported from afar due to the lack of nearby quarries. The main arches are constructed using longitudinal segmented parallel archwork, which strengthens the connection between the stones and makes the thin-pier structure more stable.
The bridge is 72 meters long, 7.4 meters high, and 5 meters wide. The central span is 13 meters wide; the adjacent spans are 8.8 meters, and the outermost spans 6.2 meters. The Dragon Gate stones at the ends of the bridge are carved with eight coiling dragons chasing a pearl among clouds—vivid and powerful. Four stone lions sit atop the balustrade columns, mouths open, heads raised, in a charmingly welcoming stance.
The entire structure is elegant yet imposing, economical in materials, highly flood-resistant, and famously referred to as “A rainbow across the wellport.” A historical poem captures its vitality:
"A long bridge like a rainbow, bustling with townsfolk;
Trades flourish beneath the noon sun, shadows scatter at sunset."
Couplets are engraved into the balustrade’s stone pillars, reading:
"Sails chase returning geese, locking a piece of jade-clouded mountain;
The sound of the tide echoes like galloping horses, waves roll across pearl-bright waters."
To the east of the bridge stands a stele pavilion housing three steles, including the “Reconstruction Record of Fangsheng Bridge” by Pan Yijun, a famed Suzhou painter, calligrapher, and book collector from the Qing dynasty.
Beyond the bridge lies Dongdajie, Zhujiajiao’s busiest commercial street, lined with century-old shops. From the Ming and Qing dynasties onward, this area flourished economically, with eight major industries and more than twenty guilds dominating the regional market. Zhujiajiao soon emerged as a cultural and commercial hub in the Jiangnan region. Let’s pass through the narrow “Single Line of Sky” alley and immerse ourselves in the vibrant crowds and history it holds.
