Ancient Hehe River Bridge

The Ancient Hehe River Bridge stands outside the north gate of Hehe Village, Xinxiang County, six kilometers west of downtown Xinxiang, spanning the upper reaches of the Wei River. It sits in a low-lying transitional zone between the piedmont alluvial fan of the Taihang Mountains and the alluvial plains formed by the Yellow River and Qin River. The site got its name because the Baiquan River and the Xiaodan River converge here.

From the Ming Dynasty up to the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Hehe River Bridge served as a vital major transportation artery in northern Henan. Roughly fifteen li downstream of the bridge lay Wei River docks and granaries, which were integral components of the Grand Canal transport network. Owing to its remarkable historical, scientific, artistic and practical value, the bridge was designated a Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Unit in June 2006.

The Ancient Hehe River Bridge is a seven-arch bluestone bridge. Its arches were built neatly by layered stonework adopting the framed sectional horizontal interlocking vaulting technique. The Wei River flows eastward toward downtown Xinxiang at this section, while the stone bridge runs from north to south. Measuring 47 meters in length, 6.5 meters in width and 6 meters in height, the bridge features the largest arch at its center, with the arches on both sides shrinking sequentially toward the ends. Iron fasteners lock the voussoirs firmly together, and two decorative curved lines are carved on the stone arch faces. The central voussoirs of the three middle arches are elaborately carved with water-absorbing mythical beasts. Cutwaters were built on both the upstream and downstream sides of the bridge piers.

A 2.1-meter-wide strip of red stone slabs paves the middle of the bridge deck, flanked by sturdy stone balustrades with a simple and dignified style. Massive, primitive and magnificent with rigorous structural integrity and well-preserved condition, Hehe River Bridge is a rare large stone arch bridge in northern Henan. It serves as precious physical evidence for the study of stone bridges of the Ming Dynasty and carries high reference value for research on the architectural, art and technological history of the Ming era.