Wenxing Bridge

Wenxing Bridge, located in Kengbian Village, Xiaocun Town, Taishun County, Zhejiang Province, was built in 1857 during the 7th year of the Xianfeng era in the Qing Dynasty.

Local elders say, "Long ago, a refined young lady married into a remote mountain valley, and her beauty transformed the green valley into a sea of red. That valley is Kengbian Village, and the young lady is Wenxing Bridge."

Situated one kilometer west of Xiaocun Town, Wenxing Bridge spans Yuxi River. It measures 46.2 meters long, 5 meters wide, with a span of 29.6 meters, and includes 16 rooms. This timber-beam arch-covered bridge was designated a national cultural relic in 2006.

When I visited Wenxing Bridge again in the summer of 2002, the morning mist wrapped around it like a delicate scarf. Fine rain sparkled on the bamboo leaves and rice seedlings, making the scene feel like a fairytale. The stream beneath the bridge shimmered like liquid jade, its gentle sounds echoing like a Guzheng. The air was filled with the scents of flowers and tea, creating a peaceful, almost magical atmosphere.

Hidden from main roads and villages, the bridge can be hard to find without guidance. In the center of the bridge stands a shrine dedicated to three deities, with an old plaque reading "Eternal Lights". On the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, villagers come to make offerings, and during the Lunar New Year, visitors arrive seeking blessings for prosperity, success and happiness.

In 2004, I visited again to meet Zhong Lanyu, known locally as the Bridge Guardian Goddess. At 80 years old and barely 1.5 meters tall, Lanyu’s kind, wrinkled face and calloused hands reminded me of my own mother. She had devoted her life to caring for Wenxing Bridge, ensuring it stayed spotless despite the villagers who hurried across it with grain and manure.

Married into Kengbian Village, Lanyu’s deep love for the bridge led her to clean it regularly, repair broken boards, and consult the county’s cultural relics department when needed. She even moved into a small house nearby to keep watch, sweeping the bridge, shooing away livestock, and protecting it from floods. When asked how long she had been the bridge’s guardian, she replied, "I can’t remember, but I’ll stay until I die." To her, the bridge was like a daughter, cherished and cared for with deep love.

Lanyu once shared a funny story about a summer day when a sow and her piglets sought refuge on the bridge. Despite the sow’s loud protests, Lanyu chased them off, determined to keep the bridge clean. Some villagers didn’t understand her dedication, but she never wavered.

For Lanyu, the bridge was a second life, her spiritual refuge. The bond they shared was one of mutual devotion and respect.

By the time you read this, Lanyu has passed away. If you want to learn more about her, visit Wenxing Bridge. It will tell you the story of Grandma Lanyu, its beloved guardian.

Though Typhoon Meranti destroyed the bridge in 2016, it has since been rebuilt, continuing the legacy Lanyu left behind.

#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.