(Photography: Zhong Xiaobo)

Xidong Bridge spans the Dongxi River in Sixi Town, hence its name.

Xidong Bridge and Beijian Bridge are very close to each other. Because the terrain is higher, it is called "Shangqiao" by the locals. Its sister bridge, Beijian Bridge, is naturally called "Lower Bridge".

But the "lower bridge" is also the "upper bridge" of Shifu Bridge, because one of the constructions of Xidong Bridge was completed by the apprentice of Zhu Mo who built Beijian Bridge.

If you keep cutting things out, they will become chaos, and they will be bound by life after life.

Xidong Bridge is the most beautiful and most stretched among the existing covered bridges.

The eaves on the top of the bridge are like centipedes dancing.

There are ridged beasts on both sides of the bridge, in the shape of a wooden dragon, with its back arched, as if swallowing clouds and spitting out mist.

The bridge was first built in the fourth year of Longqing's reign in the Ming Dynasty.

In the 10th year of Qianlong and the 7th year of Daoguang reign in the Qing Dynasty, it was rebuilt twice.

Xidong Bridge has no piers and is made of thick wood into a figure-eight-shaped outrigger wooden arch.

There are 15 corridor houses built on the bridge arch, and some of them are raised up to form pavilions.

The eaves and wings are overhanging, and the ridge of the roof is surrounded by green dragons. It has very obvious characteristics of northern palace-style architecture.

The ancillary buildings at the bridgehead, Chen Daweng Palace and Chen Madam Palace, are well preserved.

Unlike other "nationally protected cultural relics", Taishun's covered bridges are not isolated from people's daily life just because they are cultural relics.

Xidong Bridge, which has a history of more than 450 years, is still a place where villagers come and go and stop to enjoy the cool air.

I am used to looking at cultural relics through glass in museums, or staying at a safe distance in a protected area to appreciate the majesty of nature and the whims and whims of the ancients.

This feeling of walking directly into history is very special.

What's more special than this feeling is that if you are in a hurry and don't pay careful attention, you will feel that these are not cultural relics, they are just a few steps in life.
Chapter completed!