Xifu Bridge

Xifu Bridge is located in the new construction site of Huinan District, Fengdu County, built in the 57th year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1792). This bridge has a very interesting name. “Xifu(媳妇)” refers to one’s wife in Chinese. You may wonder why this bridge got a name like this. Let’s learn about the story behind!

In old times, this bridge was an indispensable passageway for people around this place. But there were often travelers who drowned in the river when trying to cross during the rainy season. As a result, the local gentry raised funds and invited numerous craftsmen and experts for the bridge’s construction. In the ceremony of its completion, a newly married couple walked on this bridge. The bride stood in the middle and called out, “The bride and groom tread on the new bridge, over its iron boards that will not be broken.” Her words not only praised the firmness of the bridge, but also expressed the best wishes to the wedding day. Since then, the bridge was named Xifu Bridge.

#CoveredBridgesofChina

Wu Weiping (Instagram @wp_bridges_hunter)

Wu Weiping, co-photographer of Fantastic China: 

20 years, 400,000+ kilometers, 100,000 photos...  for capturing the remnants of ancient Chinese Covered Bridges.