Tatang Bridge, Jiaxing, Zhejiang

Tatang Bridge was built during the Tongzhi period of the Qing dynasty. It is a single-arch stone bridge that spans the east and west of the Haiyan River. The bridge is 45.93 meters long, 3.45 meters wide, and 8 meters high, with an arch span of 14 meters. The bridge slopes are trumpet-shaped, with the east slope measuring 4.38 meters wide and the west slope measuring 4.76 meters wide. There are three stone disks on each side of the east side of the bridge, and four stone disks on each side of the west side. There is a stone lion sculpture at each end of the bridge, and a square pillar at the west end. There are 41 stone steps on the east side of the bridge and 42 stone steps on the west side. The central stone disk features water swirl and coiled dragon patterns. The bridge plaque reads "Rebuilt Tatang Bridge." Stone railings are built on both sides of the bridge for pedestrians to sit on, and the bridge piers are embedded with couplets. The southeast pier is embedded with a stone tablet with blurred text and a stone eave at the top. The bridge is large in scale and beautiful in shape. It is one of the only remaining ancient bridges on the Haiyan River and has high historical and scientific value. It is a key cultural relic protection unit in Zhejiang Province.