Sima Gao Bridge

Sima Gao Bridge (simplified Chinese: 司马高桥; traditional Chinese: 司馬高橋; pinyin: Sīmǎ Gāo Qiáo) is a historic stone arch bridge in the town of Chongfu, Tongxiang, Zhejiang, China.

Sima Gao Bridge 司马高桥
The Sima Gao Bridge in June 2014.
Coordinates	30°31′50″N 120°26′43″E
Crosses	Moat
Locale	Chongfu, Tongxiang, Zhejiang, China
Other name(s)	Gao Bridge
Characteristics
Design	Arch Bridge
Material	Stone
Total length	19.4 metres (64 ft)
Width	3 metres (9.8 ft)
Height	5 metres (16 ft)
Longest span	9.7 metres (32 ft)
History
Construction start	14th century
Construction end	1876 (reconstruction)
Location

History

The bridge was first built in the 14th century, in the ruling of Hongwu Emperor in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). It was rebuilt in 1749, in the 14th year of Qianlong Emperor's reign during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), and was damaged by war in 1864, in the ruling of Tongzhi Emperor. Yu Liyuan (余丽元), the magistrate of Shimen County, reconstructed it in 1876. In March 2005, it was designated as a cultural relic protection unit at provincial level by the Zhejiang Government.^[1][2]

Architecture

The bridge measures 19.4 metres (64 ft) long, 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide, and approximately 5 metres (16 ft) high. A pair of Chinese guardian lions stands on both sides of its baluster shafts.^[1]

References

1. Wang Ya (王亚) (20 April 2011). 追寻崇德城旧址与横街遗迹. zjol.com.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 8 October 2019.
2. Yu Liyuan (余丽元) (2017). 石门县志 [Shimen County Annals] (in Chinese). 运河桥十一：司马高桥旧名南高桥，在皂林驿东，明洪武间建。国朝乾隆十四年邑人沈廷槐重建，同治甲子兵燬，光绪二年余令丽元请帑重建。