Tai’an Bridge
Welcome, dear visitors. According to Records of Zhuli by Zhou Yubin, a resident of Zhujiajiao during the Qing dynasty:
"Tai’an Bridge, located in the northern Zhashan area of the 25th administrative district, commonly known as Hejia Bridge, was built by the local community in the 12th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty (1584).”
The Qing scholar Chen Jianglin also wrote a poem titled “Tai’an Bridge in Evening View”:
"The sun sets, summer heat retreats,
A faint moonlight fills the pond.
Songs drift from the market streets,
Fishermen’s flutes echo east of the creek.
Palm fans sway away the lingering warmth,
Short summer robes catch the cool breeze.
In this tranquil evening, I wander alone,
The ancient temple connects to the bridge."
The ancient temple in the poem refers to Yuanjin Zen Temple, which was originally built in the late Yuan dynasty, dismantled in the 1950s, and rebuilt in 2000.
Tai’an Bridge sits in front of the east gate of Yuanjin Zen Temple, stretching east-west across the Zhujiajiao city river, connecting Huqiu Port to Beicao Port. Historically, it was also called Hejia Bridge.
The bridge was first built in the 12th year of the Wanli reign (1584). Its name plaque bears an inscription in regular script from the Kangxi Yichou year (1685), left during a restoration of that time.
Tai’an Bridge is a single-arch stone bridge, 26.2 meters long and 3.57 meters wide between the inner railings. Due to its height and steep stone steps, locals nicknamed it “Bridge of Helplessness” (Naihe Bridge).
The entire structure is made of bluestone. The railings are adorned with floating cloud patterns, earning it the nickname “Flying Cloud Stone”. Such craftsmanship is exceptionally rare in the Shanghai area.
The bridge deck is carved with geometric patterns that serve both as anti-slip features and as auspicious symbols of beauty and fortune. The center stone is square-shaped, and square recesses with bolt marks are still visible at both ends of the stairs. These were originally used to anchor cast-iron railings and chains that helped pedestrians steady themselves on the steep slope. These railings were installed thanks to community donations initiated by the Zhujie Guild Hall but were later removed during the war, leaving behind 14 sets of chisel marks as a silent witness to history.
At the western end of the bridge stand two flagpole stones, once used to secure a wooden pole that held lanterns. These lanterns served as night-time navigation signals for boats and as a notification of Buddhist ceremonies at Yuanjin Temple.
Adding to its charm, pomegranate trees grow directly out of the stone crevices of the bridge. This phenomenon is tied to the unique traditional bridge-building technique: ancient craftsmen used a mortar made from glutinous rice paste mixed with pomegranate seeds. The word for pomegranate (shíliú) is a homophone for “stone remains” (shíliú), symbolizing durability. Over time, the resilient pomegranate seeds sprouted and took root in the bridge’s joints. Today, these trees—over 400 years old—intertwine harmoniously with the stone, forming a living testament to the bridge’s endurance and beauty.
When you visit Zhujiajiao, in addition to its enchanting waterways, you will also be attracted to the thriving century-old shops nearby, which continue to flourish to this day.
