Arts

The Zigzag Bridge

: In the courtyards of palaces and imperial gardens water vats are seen standing not far from the...

: Travellers to Inner Mongolia are impressed by pillbox-shaped heaps that stand singularly or in...

: Stupas appeared in China with the import of Buddhism and, during a long history of well over a...

A landscaping structure, the zigzag bridge is found in some gardens or suburban scenic spots. It is intended to give an interesting feature to the scene on lakes and ponds and enlarge the scope of the sightseers' stroll over the water surface.

Such a bridge may have three, five or more zigzags. Jiuqu Qiao (the Nine-Bend Bridge) in Yu Garden of Shanghai's old town is typical one. Going over a lake thirty metres across, the bridge winds more than a hundred metres because of its nine twists. Flanked by balustrades with square posts, it has also by its side a mid-lake pavilion in which visitors may have a cup of tea upstairs and enjoy the view all around.

Bridges

Chinese bridges from ancient times, highly varied in material and form, are an important legacy with national characteristics, occupying an important position in the world history of bridge-building.

The Stone Arch Bridge

The Stone Arch Bridge

The stone arch bridge is the most common type of bridges one sees in China.
The Cross Bridge

The Cross Bridge

This is a very rare bridge in China; in fact, probably only one of its type still exists in the country.
The Pavilion Bridge

The Pavilion Bridge

A component part of the art of landscape gardening, the pavilion bridge is often built over the surface of a quiet lake, forming a small scenic area and providing sightseers with a place for a...