Huilong Bridge

    Look at this single span timber arch bridge. Does it seem very simple and ordinary? But will you be surprised if I tell you this plain bridge is constructed without a single iron nail or clamp, yet survived unscathed after a flood?

The Huilong Bridge, situated in Youyang County, Chongqing, was built during the Qing Dynasty across a dangerous river called Longxi River with swift currents. In order to make this entirely wooden bridge stand strong and still, carpenters placed dozens of thick timbers of Chinese fir on top of the rigid foundation to form a supporting structure with an “8” shape. Then they used log crossbeams to link together the nodes of the supporting members. Timber boards were laid on top of the deck, and a gallery house was built on the top. Without a single iron nail or clamp to connect different components, the Huilong Bridge is extremely wind and flood resistant. During a terrible flood in 2010, the bridge was immersed in the high levels of water for more than a month but remained completely undamaged.