Zhaozhou Bridge

Zhaozhou Bridge, also known as Anji Bridge, spans the Xiao River at Zhaozhou Town in Zhao County, about 40 km south-east of Shijiazhuang in Hebei Province. Built between about 595 and 605 in the Sui dynasty under the direction of the craftsman Li Chun, it is widely recognised as the oldest surviving open-spandrel segmental stone arch bridge in the world. The single arch spans roughly 37 metres, and the bridge is about 50 to 64 metres long in total, with small auxiliary arches on each shoulder that lighten the structure and let floodwater pass. Carved balustrade panels depict dragons and other mythical creatures, some of which are replicas of original slabs now preserved in site displays. The bridge was designated an international historic civil engineering landmark and is a national key cultural heritage site in China. Visitors can walk across the arch, view it from the riverbank park, and photograph its elegant profile reflected in the water. The surrounding park includes exhibitions on the bridge's construction and later restorations, as well as a small collection of ancient stone carvings. A visit usually takes one to one and a half hours, and the best photographic vantage points are the riverbank south of the span and the approach path in early morning or late afternoon, when low sun picks out the stone texture. Crowds are small on weekdays but rise at weekends and holidays when local tour groups arrive. Reported admission is around CNY 40, although some listings suggest the park may be free, so confirm at the gate. The nearby Bailin Temple is a natural companion stop within the same town.