Bridge

Lang Bridge

Lang Bridge, also known as Huimin Bridge, is located at the southern turn of Beidajie (North Street), spanning across the Market River (Shi He). The eastern end connects to Beidajie, the bustling commercial hub of the ancient town, while the western end leads to Caohe Street (also called Temple Front Street).

This is the only wooden bridge in the ancient town and one of its most distinctive structures. The bridge deck is lined with wooden railings and topped with tiled eaves and upturned corners.It offers pedestrians shelter from wind, rain, and sun, providing not only a convenient resting spot—thus earning the name “Huimin” (Benefiting the People).

The bridge’s graceful and elegant form allows visitors to admire the orderly stone embankments and Ming-Qing style whitewashed buildings with black-tiled roofs lining both sides of the river. One can also observe the charming daily life of locals who shop and open windows directly onto the water, evoking the unique Jiangnan-style water-town charm. The riverside arcades along Caohe Street present a picturesque scene of traditional life on the water.

Lang Bridge was originally built during the Qing dynasty and underwent repairs after liberation, which earned it the nickname “New Bridge.” In the 1960s, due to years of ignorance, the bridge fell into disrepair and was eventually dismantled. In 1996, a local resident, Chen Shuchang, donated 100,000 yuan to rebuild the bridge in its original location. The new structure, combining brick and wood, revived the ancient bridge, further enhancing the town’s tourism appeal.