Zhaozhou Bridge (Anji Bridge)

Zhaozhou Bridge, also called Anji Bridge, spans the Xiaohe River south of Zhaozhou Town in Zhao County, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China. It was built between 605 and 618 AD during the Sui dynasty, and is recognised as the world's oldest open-spandrel stone segmental arch bridge still standing. The engineer traditionally credited with the design is Li Chun, and the structure has remained in use for more than 1,400 years despite floods, earthquakes and wars.

The bridge is about 50 metres long and 9 metres wide, with a single flattened arch spanning roughly 37 metres. Its distinctive feature is the pair of small arches built into each shoulder of the main arch. These open spandrels reduce the weight of the structure and allow flood water to pass through, an innovation that predates similar European designs by many centuries. The arch is built from parallel courses of limestone blocks, and the carved balustrades show dragons and other motifs from the Sui and later periods. Visitors walk across the bridge and can view the arch from the riverbank, where the full curve of the span is visible.

The surrounding park includes pavilions, a small museum with exhibits on the bridge's history and engineering, and gardens along the riverbank. A visit usually lasts one to one and a half hours. Weekday mornings are quietest, and photographers favour the riverside view of the arch in the early light. Crowds are heaviest on weekends and holidays, when tour groups from Shijiazhuang arrive. The bridge is a short stop, often combined with Zhengding and Longxing Temple or other sights in the Shijiazhuang area. Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant conditions, while summer can be hot with limited shade near the river.