Beijian Bridge

Beijian Bridge is a multi-layer braced wooden arch covered bridge located in Xiaqiao Village, Sixi Town. First built in the 13th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1674), it was renovated in the 8th year of the Jiaqing reign (1803) and fully reconstructed in the 29th year of the Daoguang reign (1849). The bridge stretches 51.7 metres long and 5.37 metres wide, with a clear span of 29 metres. Spanning the North Stream, Beijian Bridge boasts a well-proportioned overall structure and magnificent momentum. Its covered corridor features grey tiles and crimson timber walls, adorned with mythical beast sculptures along upturned flying eaves. Ancient towering trees frame the bridge, and two streams converge beneath its arch. Green mountains, clear waters, the rainbow-shaped arch bridge and old trees set off one another, forming an enchanting landscape painting.

Walk down the long cobblestone path and you will arrive beside Beijian Bridge. Two towering ancient trees stand at the bridgehead, shielding the covered bridge and nearby folk houses. Ridge beasts atop the bridge eaves and fish-shaped pendants decorating the gables of dwellings flicker partially hidden amid swaying branches. A narrow trail branches off the cobblestone path, crossing a small stone slab bridge to reach the opposite bank of the stream. Viewing the grey-tiled, red-walled Beijian Bridge from the wide stream shoal, visitors feel as if stepping into an antique Song Dynasty landscape scroll, experiencing the delightful sensation of wandering amid a living painting.

The original Beijian Bridge stood roughly fifty metres upstream from the present structure, and its ruins can still be seen today. It was once a flat wooden covered bridge. Three rock boulders lie under the bridge, which locals say resemble three turtles guarding the village’s geomantic water inlet. After the flat bridge was washed away, clansmen built a new wooden arch bridge downstream — the Beijian Bridge we see today, led by three chief organisers: Chen Ruchang, Lin Youqing and the monk Mingdeng. A legendary folk tale tells why the original flat bridge collapsed.

Hundreds of years ago, two immortal wanderers passed by the old Beijian Bridge. Captivated by the scenic mountains and clear waters, they set up a chessboard on the bridge to play while admiring the view.

Presently, an elderly woman crossed the bridge with a young boy named Zhizhou. She asked the two immortals politely: “Kind sirs, please make way so my grandson Zhizhou and I may pass.”

Amused that a mere seven or eight-year-old child bore the given name meaning “prefect”, the immortals set down their chess pieces and rose to their feet. One immortal recited an impromptu poem in jest: “An eighty-year-old matron bears no shame, A tiny boy shall claim the prefect’s name. If this child truly holds that lofty post, Floodwaters shall sweep Beijian Bridge’s ghost.”

Teased by the verse, the old woman hung her head in embarrassment.

An old local proverb states: “Mock not tender bamboo shoots, for they shall grow tall.” More than a decade later, the boy Zhizhou indeed became a prefect. In the winter of his appointment, relentless floods surged through the Sixi area and washed the original Beijian Bridge away entirely.

With the crossing destroyed, river travel became extremely inconvenient. In 1674, villagers of Xiaqiao Village erected a new wooden arch bridge near the old site — the current Beijian Bridge.

Most of this folk legend is fictional, yet a person named Zhizhou truly existed within the Lin clan genealogy. The epitaph section of the Lin Clan Genealogy records two tombs behind the ancestral grave of their founding ancestor Lin Jian: “The left tomb belongs to Master Yifu, Grand Master of the Great Palace; the right to Master Wenzhong, commonly known as Prefect Tomb. Master Wenzhong’s given name was Zhizhou, not an official title.”

Many shops cluster at the head of Beijian Bridge, serving as the village’s bustling commercial hub. An opera stage once stood east of the crossing. Following local customs, villagers would visit Linshui Palace and Lord Chen Grand Shrine at the start of each year to make vows, praying to the gods for bumper harvests and harmonious families. At year’s end, they returned to fulfil their promises. Statues of Chen Shisi and Lord Chen were carried in procession to the opera stage beside Beijian Bridge for theatrical performances, a grand event lasting four full days.

Constructed with braced wooden arch beams, Beijian Bridge exudes overwhelming grandeur. The covered corridor is an elaborate, carefully crafted core component designed by ancient bridge artisans. Erecting roofed corridors atop the arch frame adds vertical pressure that stabilises the arch structure while shielding the timber from wind and rain. Additionally, artistic detailing throughout the corridor — varied eave designs and ornate ridge carvings — greatly elevates the bridge’s overall aesthetic appeal.

Against rolling green mountains and crystal streams, Beijian Bridge stands strikingly vibrant, largely thanks to its rich crimson finish. The red paint coating its wind and rain planks is applied masterfully, vivid yet refined, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship. The bold red hue distinguishes the bridge from the surrounding green wilderness, highlighting it as the focal landmark. What is more, the warm red tone harmonises naturally with the landscape’s earthy and green shades, each complementing the other perfectly. While the wind barriers are painted red, all wooden columns and beams of the corridor retain their unvarnished natural timber texture, simple and rustic. Most stone fittings of the bridge bear minimal carving, delivering a pure, unadorned beauty like a lotus flower blooming straight from clear water.