Jimei Bridge (2), Dehua

Jimei Bridge is located in Chengzhe Village, Shuikou Town, Dehua County. According to the Dehua County Annals, this bridge was built in 1790, during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. It has a history of more than 200 years and was a necessary route to Shuikou Town and Xianyou in ancient times. In 2016, affected by the short-term heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Megi, a flash flood broke out in Chengzhe Village, Shuikou Town, causing a mudslide, which led to the destruction of the ancient Jimei Covered Bridge, which had withstood more than 200 years of wind and rain. It was rebuilt two years later, and after several years of polishing, it has regained a hint of its ancient charm. Jimei Bridge is a single-span, flat-beam, wooden covered bridge with a bridge deck of 22.5m and a total of nine bays. The roof is a double-sloped roof covered with blue tiles, and the sides of the bridge are covered with a layer of weatherboards. The most unique feature of Jimei Bridge is the four slender pillars under the bridge. Such slender pillars are very rare among the covered bridges in Fujian (this is the only example I have seen so far), which adds a touch of beauty to the covered bridge, and seems to be a reproduction of the flying rainbows in the mountains in Song Dynasty paintings. Because it is located in the river valley below the mountain village, surrounded by jungles, its surrounding environment is also excellent, and the colorful leaves in autumn make the mountains more gorgeous and layered. Walking down the stone-paved path to the side of the covered bridge is like entering a secret realm.