Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge in Sanjiang County, Liuzhou

Sanjiang Wind and Rain Bridge is an iconic scenic spot in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County. It combines the wooden wind and rain bridge of Dong people and the modern steel-cement structure to construct this unique wind and rain bridge excellent in both length and scale in China. The bridge body is of cement structure and can be opened to traffic. The structures on the bridge are wooden. There are pavilions and towers. It spans over the Xujiang River and is exquisite.
English Name: Sanjiang Wind and Rain Bridge
Chinese Name: 三江风雨桥
Opening Hours: All day long
Ticket Price: 60 yuan
Best Time: May to October
Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 day
Address: Intersection of Fuqiao East Road and Moon Street, Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Liuzhou City

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Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge

Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge, which is also called Yongji Bridge or Panlong Bridge, is located about 20 kilometers north of Sanjiang County of Liuzhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Constructed in 1916, the bridge was made up of five big stone piers and a wooden upper body, 64.4 meters in length, 3.4 meters in width and 10.6 meters in height, enjoying equal fame with the stone-arch Zhaozhou Bridge and the iron-chain Luding Bridge in China.

Why is Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge So Special

As the most famous shelter bridge in Dong architectural style, the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge is under national protection and is treated as a must-see in Guangxi, where the Miao’s festivals, the Zhuang’s singing in antiphonal style, the Yao’s dances and the Dong’s construction are hailed as the “four great ethnic minority feelings in Guangxi”.

Unfamiliar with modern bridges, the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge is like a long passage covered with handrail, roof and five traditional Chinese polygonal cirriform pavilions, with elegant carvings and paintings on the pilasters. The whole bridge looks imposing; however, what really impresses people is that such a marvelous building was constructed without using a nail or a rivet!

Introduction of Wind and Rain Bridge

Layout

The bridge is a combination of bridge, corridor, veranda and Chinese pavilion. It has two platforms (one at each end of the bridge), 3 piers, 3 spans, 5 pavilions, 19 verandas, and three floors. The piers are made of stone, the upper structures are mainly wooden, and the roof is covered with tiles. The bridge has wooden handrails on both sides. The bridge has a total length of 64.4 meters, and its corridor has a width of 3.4 meters. The net height above the river is about 10 meters. The bridge serves as the entrance to eight populous villages in Chengyang. As a result, there is substantial daily traffic on the bridge. Guo Moruo, a famous Chinese author, loved the bridge at first sight and wrote a poem for it.

What you can do

Walking out onto the bridge, you can sit on the bench and appreciate the picturesque scenery. Looking far ahead, you will be intoxicated with what you see: the Linxi River meandering from the horizon; tea trees growing on the hills; local peasants working hard in the fields; and waterwheels turning, sending water cascading down the river.

Legend

Chengyang, picturesque scenery of Dong county, hand down a legend that flower dragon saved a young couple: one day, a pair of newly married loving young couple walking over the bridge, the river bottom suddenly blew up a gust of wind and rolled the girl. It turned out to be a river crab like the girl and cause trouble. Her husband was crying on the river, almost want to drown himself in the river to accompany his wife …His crying disturbed the flower dragon in the bottom, and the dragon was deeply moved by spoony so it flied up and defeated the crab and rescued the girl.

The couple finally reunited. Then later generation in order to commemorate flower dragon they reconstructed the wooden bridge as gallery-type Wind and Rain Bridge, also carved the image of flower dragon in the column and called it Huilong Bridge (Dragon Bridge). Because this bridge can make people avoid wind and rain, so people renamed it as Wind and Rain Bridge.

Later, the Wind and Rain Bridge is a good place for lovers to date secretly. Accompanied by the sound of water, sitting on the bridge side by side and looking at the sky is a kind of romance for Dong minority young men and women.

How to Get There

Taking train which leaves for Huaihua city of Hunan province, and it costs 3 to 4 hours to Sanjiang stop and then transfer mini van to Chengyang Bridge.
Going to the opposite of Liuzhou Train Station to take public bus or taking taxi to Bus Station and then taking bus to Sanjiang County.

Useful Travel Tips

Hours: all day long
Admission: 60 yuan, 80 yuan (for watching the performance of the local Dong ethnic minority)
Getting there: Take the ‘Sanjiang to Chengyang’ bus and get off at the Chengyang.
Accommodation: Near the bridge, there are several hostels. If you want to have a spectacular view of the charming scenery, you may want to stay in the Drum Tower Folk Hostel built on the hill.
In front of the Drum Tower of Ma’an, you can watch performances by the Dong people. If you want to take photos there, you should pay for them.