Photos Of Chinese Bridges: Wooden Bridge, Moon Bridge, River Bridge.
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Like any other bridge, a Chinese bridge is used simply to cross from one point to another! A functional Chinese bridge might well be made of concrete, steel, stone or wood, and serves its purpose. An ornamental Chinese bridge satisfies a desire to behold something beautiful. Many such Chinese bridges are made entirely of wood, and have an ornate roof with upturned eaves.
At certain places in the Martyrs' Park in Changsha, it is possible to see three different types together. A semi-circular Chinese bridge aka "Moon Bridge", a Chinese bridge of concrete and steel crossing part of a lake and leading to a beautiful wooden Chinese bridge complete with roof.
Father built a sort of stone 'Moon Bridge' in the garden, to support a bed of shrubs, but it could never have the appearance of a true Moon Bridge because it did not span any water. This particular type of Bridge acquired its name because its reflection on still water presented an image of a circle, just like a full moon. Another feature of many Chinese bridges built in a style following ancient customs, is for the bridge to have a roof with upturned eaves on which there are small models of Chinese Dragons.
Some Chinese bridges satisfy the need for being functional as well as ornamental. Near Huai Hua, a river bridge supported on stone pillars, has a multi-layered roof with upturned eaves complete with dragons. The bridge itself is like a market with stalls lining both its sides, selling a variety of goods, including snacks and drinks. The wooden bridge at the Martyrs' Park, Changsha, has open sides along part of which are arranged bench seats. During one visit, some people were fishing from the bridge, and other people were playing cards on the benches. It surely could be described as a bridge of convenience, of rest, and of recreation!
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Functional Chinese Bridges Of Concrete And Steel
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Chinese Bridge over Yangtze River at Nanjing. Carries four lanes of traffic on upper deck and two rail lines below.
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Chinese Bridge over Xiang River at Changsha. A river almost silt free, compared to the yellow Yangtze.
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Ornate Traditional Chinese Bridges Of Wood
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Wooden Chinese bridge with roof over man made lake at Martyrs' Memorial Park, Changsha.
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Wooden Chinese bridge in the Minorities' Park at Beijing. One of many impressive structures.
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The Zigzag Bridge has a much different function to perform besides being a crossing from one point to another. Whatever materials are used for building this type of bridge, it is a Feng Shui attribute, because the zigzag makes it more difficult for 'bad spirits' to cross. There is a zigzag bridge in the Yu Yuan Garden at Shanghai leading to the Stilted Tea House in the lake. From the bridge and from the Tea House, shoals of goldfish can be seen in the lake below, hoping to be fed with morsels of food. Another zigzag bridge can be found at the Grand View Gardens in Beijing, but this leads to a small pavillion, similar to the pavillion that is part of the Chinese classic story, 'Dream Of Red Mansions'. The layout of the whole garden, which has many different types of bridges, is based on this classic story.
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