China, Seen
Through Beauty
Documentary photograph by Siyuwj, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.Source / rightsWikimedia Commons · explicit-license

Shijiazhuang City

North · Hebei

Zhaozhou Bridge, the First Great Arch

A single 37-meter stone arch from the year 605, still carrying its original spandrel design

The oldest open-spandrel stone arch bridge in the world: one great arch of wedge-cut stone, two small arches punched through each shoulder to let floods through, and iron butterfly stitches holding the segments together — built around 605 and still standing on its original foundations.

  • single stone arch
  • spandrel windows
  • iron stitches
Spring

Willows over the old riverbed

Spring willows frame the arch in fresh green; the water line runs lowest and clearest.

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09 · travel note

Zhaozhou Bridge, the First Great Arch

City anchorShijiazhuang City

Best time
April-June and September-October for clear arch reflections and walking weather.
Stay
Half day

A way throughOne hour at the bridge park, plus the county town sites — the bridge is the centerpiece of a small, dense engineering route.

On the wayZhaoxian sits about one hour southeast of Shijiazhuang by road; buses and hired cars run the route frequently.

With respectThe bridge deck is the original fabric: walk it, do not chisel memories out of it — and note the bridge is a reconstruction-adjacent restoration, with original Sui material mainly in the core.

The great stone arch of Anji Bridge reflected in still water, wedge joints and iron stitches visible.Real scene

Seasonal experience

A clear autumn afternoon

Read the bridge from the riverbed level

Walk down to the old riverbed path, look up at the great arch from below, and find the iron butterfly stitches between the stone blocks — then walk the deck once to feel how flat and shallow the climb really is.

Why now
Li Chun's insight was mathematical: a flatter arch carries carts instead of boats-only, and open spandrels stop floods from pushing the bridge off its feet.
Time needed
1 to 2 hours
Plan before you go
The park is compact and walkable; combine with the Zhaoxian pagoda cluster in town for a full half-day of Sui-era engineering.
Photo: Siyuwj / Wikimedia Commons
Official tourismZhaoxian County People's Government