Made by : Laura Hany

CH EN G YAN G BRID G E

Properties
The bridge is a combination ofbridges,
corridor,verandaand Chinese pavilion. It has two
platforms (one at each end of the bridge), 3 piers,
3pans, 5 pavilions, 19 verandas, and threefloors.
The piers are made of stone, the upper structures are
mainlywooden, and theroof is covered withtiles. The
bridge has wooden handrails on both sides.
The bridge has a total length of 64.4 metres (211ft),
and its corridor has a width of 3.4 metres (11ft). The
net height above the river is about 10 metres (33ft).
The bridge is located in Chengyang, and serves as the
link between two populousvillages. As a result, there is
substantial daily traffic on the bridge.

The construction ofthe bridge

To one's surprise, the builders of this bridge did not

use any nails or rivets. Instead, talented Dong people

dove-tailed many pieces of wood. Though several
decades old, it is still very sturdy. In a word, it is
grand and looks like a brilliant rainbow crossing over
the river.
Walking out onto the bridge, you can sit on the
bench and appreciate the picturesque scenery.
Looking far ahead, you will be intoxicated with what
you see: the Linxi River meandering from the
horizon; tea trees growing on the hills; local peasants
working hard in the fields; and waterwheels turning,
sending water cascading down the river.

For tourists
Many visitors like to spend time here enjoying the

perfect pastoral life and to experience the customs of

the Dong people. There are eight famous stockade
villages here that offer a peek into the Dong's life and
customs. They are Ma'an, Pingzhai, Yanzhai,
Chengyang-Dazhai, Pingpu, Pingtan, Jichang and
Guandong.
Accommodation: Near the bridge, there are several
hostels. If you want to have a spectacular view of the
charming scenery, you may want to stay in the Drum
Tower Folk Hostel built on the hill.
Food: You will have a chance to taste the local snacks,
such as rice noodles and the fish with sour taste.

U se ofthe bridge
Such bridges are meant to shelter the

villagers in bad weather and otherwise are

places to sit together and enjoy the
scenery women on the bridge sell
embroidery and cotton blankets boldly
patterned in black and white. One may
also be able to buy shiny blue-black Dong
jackets, dyed with indigo and varnished in
egg white as protection against
mosquitoes. Dance shows may be
performed for an extra fee.

W hat specifi
cally you can see
from the bridge
From the bridge, you can watch the river and the people

going about their activities. You can see a tight group of

two or three story houses. The houses are overlooked by a
square drum tower. For an excursion while visiting the
bridge, there's a trail from the main road up to two
pavilions overlooking Chengyang. These give views of the
villages nestled among vivid green fields.From the bridge,
you can observe the river and watch the people going
about their daily activities. You can see a tight group of
two- or three-story houses. The houses are overlooked by
a square drum tower. For an extra excursion while visiting
the bridge, there's a trail from the main road up to two
pavilions overlooking Chengyang. These provide views of
the local villages, nestled among vivid green fields.