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Chengyang Winds & Rain Bridge

Chengyang Winds & Rain Bridge is over the Linxi River in Ma'an Village in Sanjiang, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

 
Chengyang Winds & Rain Bridge is also called Yongji Bridge or Panlong Bridge. It was built in 1916. It is a wood-and-stone architecture. It is 76 meters long and 3.7 meters wide with 5 stone piers covered by wooden board. On the bridge, there is a long corridor as rain shelter with long benches on both sides. Passengers can take a rest and shelter from rain. On the five piers, there are five four-storeyed Dong styled tower-like double-eave pavilions, which are covered with cyan tiles and white eaves. The whole bridge is in the shape of a crescent moon and is just like a golden phoenix spreading the wings before flying. The pavilion in the middle is hexagon and has a pyramidal roof. The pavilions on the two ends are like magnificent palaces with pyramidal roofs with gourd-shaped top. The westernmost one has gable and hip roof. There are many Dong styled patterns on the corridors and eaves.
 
At present, it is the largest wind and rain bridge also it is the crystal of Dong people's wisdom It is one of the artistic precious things of Chinese wood architecture.
 
The Yongji Bridge is not only full of Dong flavor in the shape, but also has superb craftsmanship in the structure. The most amazing thing in its construction is that no nails were used in the building of the whole bridge. The whole bridge is connected by wooden tenons. It has a complicated structure without the smallest error. Meanwhile, it is beautiful and magnificent and demonstrates the high level of the Dongs' architectural design.
 
In the middle of the bridge erects a marble, on which a poem of Guo Muoruo was carved. The poem was composed when he was visiting the bridge. Guo Muoruo also inscribed the name of the bridge, Chengyang Bridge.

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