Yunlong Bridge
Yunlong Bridge - located at the estuary of Qingyan River in Xialuo Village, Luofang Town, Liancheng County, Fujian Province, was built in the 7th year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1634).
This provincial cultural relic was built under the auspices of Zhefu Gong, the 12th generation of the Luo family. It is an east-west oriented wooden-structured pavilion-style covered bridge with stone piers, spanning 81 meters in length, 5 meters in width, and 20 meters in height. Renovated in the 37th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1771), it boasts a double-story hexagonal pagoda-style Kuixing Tower in the central western part and high-pitched eaves pavilions at both ends. The bridge's imposing appearance, often shrouded in clouds and mist during rainy seasons, resembles a dragon, hence its name.
The bridge deck is paved with colored pebbles, and its wooden structure consists of 128 pillars arranged in four rows. The central part of the deck is for vehicles and horses, while the sides are for pedestrians.
It hosts the Ancient Events festival, a lively celebration that draws thousands. Since the early Qing Dynasty, every year on the third quarter of the noon on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, the Qingyan River under Yunlong Bridge in Luofang Town witnesses the roaring Walking of Ancient Events by the Hakkas, a grand carnival cheered by tens of thousands.
Over 20 villagers from the same clan volunteer to lift the Ancient Event and race to enhance their clan's prestige. The "dry walk" on the 14th is a warm-up, while the "water walk" on the 15th sees the seven Ancient Events carried to the Yunlong Bridge. Afterward, the entire clan gathers for a feast, with plenty of wine, meat, fish and shrimp, and the celebration continues until late into the night.
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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.