Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge

Located in Chengyang Village, Linxi Township of the Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge is listed as one of the three famous ancient bridges in China. Built in 1912, this semi-permanent bridge has stone piers and wooden girders and pavilions connected by a tile-roofed corridor.

Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge is a fusion of bridge, corridor and kiosks in architectural style. It lends a unique charm in the history of the world's architecture. Yongji Bridge and Twist Dragon Bridge (Panlong Qiao in Chinese) are the other names for Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge. There are more than 180 bridges in Sanjiang, but only the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge is reputed to be the best. It is known as the masterpiece of the Dong people's wind and rain bridges.

Acrossing the Linxi River, the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge is a story-like wooden construction supported by stone contignation. Five pavilion-like towers were respectively set on the two pedestals, three stone abutments and linked by corridor, and four apertures were formed for the bridge.

The bridge is 77.76 meters long, 10.6 meters high and 3.75 meters wide. It looks like a long corridor with two or more pavilion towers. Except the stone pedestals, the body of bridge was constructed by fir wood and wooden tenons. It is an amazing piece of architecture built without use of any fasteners of any kind.

Wooden railing, pilasters and eaves on the corridor are all exquisitely carved, which represents the special architectural style of the Dong ethnic group. Along the railing of two bridge sides, chairs and benched are set for a rest. There sitting visitors can enjoy a view of rural life.

The Dong people's wind and rain bridges are always built at lower reach of a river near the villages. Generally, the bridges are shelters and convenient for come-and-go. Moreover, the religious meaning a bridge bears with is that a flying dragon guards the village and blesses for the villagers.

A legendary story always comes with the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge. It has been told by local people from generation to generation. One day, a newly-married young couple was walking across a small wooden bridge. Suddenly, the wife was blown into the bed of the river by a mysterious wind. The husband had no idea what to do but crying. He didn't know the crab monster who lived in the river was slavering over his wife and seized her away. The young man was crying and crying and felt in despair. When he was about to commit suicide by jumping into the river, a dragon flew out from the river. The dragon must be touched by their true love. He killed the crab monster and rescued the man's wife. The young couple came to reunion eventually.

In memory of the dragon, they built a large bridge to substitute the small wooden bridge on the river. They carved the image of the dragon on the bridge and named it "Twist Dragon Bridge. Since it can shelter wind and rain, the local people also named it the "Wind and Rain Bridge. Traditionally, once the bridge is destroyed, the local people will build a new one on the same place. Today, though people who visit the Chengyang Village cannot see the original bridge, they can listen to this romance. The bridge is known as the popular dating place of the young Dong people's lovers.

The Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge has been very well preserved by the Dong people and the local government. And these years, the untouched Dong villages nearby the bridge and the bridge itself have attracted many rubbernecks from all over the world.