Jianshui Seventeen-Arch Bridge

Outside the west gate of Jianshui Ancient City, spanning across the Lu River, lies quietly the "First Bridge of Southern Yunnan" — the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. Built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, it is 153 meters long and 3 meters wide, composed of 17 semicircular stone arches connected in a row, resembling a long rainbow drinking from a stream. When its reflection appears in the water, it looks like a string of bright moons floating on the waves. The bridge is entirely constructed from local bluestone, and after nearly two hundred years of wind, rain, and floods, it remains as solid as ever, a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship and wisdom of ancient artisans. Originally, the bridge had pavilions, corridor pillars, and stone railings. Although some parts have been damaged, the existing stone lions, inscriptions, and weathered bridge surface still reveal the prosperous scene of "carriages and horses bustling, merchants and travelers coming and going" from the past. What’s more interesting is that where the Lu River meets the Tachu River beneath the bridge, the water flows distinctly clear and turbid, creating a unique spectacle of "one bridge crossing two waters, one water dividing clear and turbid." It is not only a vital transportation route but also a witness to Jianshui’s cultural heritage — scholars once paused here on their way to exams, merchant groups traveled south, and mule caravans rested here. Today, elders practice Tai Chi in the morning, and youths ride bicycles across the bridge in the evening, blending the ancient bridge gently with everyday life. The Seventeen-Arch Bridge quietly turns time into poetry. When you come to Jianshui, don’t forget to stop on the bridge, listen to the sound of the water, and count the light and shadows.