Xiangfu Bridge (祥符桥) is not only a unique stone arch bridge in Hangzhou but also a bridge that condenses the memories of generations. It is also a national key cultural relic protection unit.
Xiangfu Bridge has a history of 500 years, and the bridge has been recorded in the Southern Song Dynasty “Xianchun Lin'an Chronicle” and “Chunyou Lin'an Chronicle”. The Song Dynasty was prosperous in economy and culture, and literati had high achievements in various artistic fields, and architectural planning and design was also one of them. The antique and simple construction technology and exquisite carving used on Xiangfu Bridge have high scientific, artistic and historical value, which has become the core cultural gene of Xiangfu Bridge.
Xiangfu Bridge has always had an important transportation function, especially in the Southern Song Dynasty. It was not only the main transportation route of Hangzhou, but also the must-pass when going northwards to the old capital, Dongjing (now Kaifeng City, Henan Province), so it was endowed with more meanings and expectations.
“Misty willows and painted bridge.” Stepping on the bridge deck, you’ll see the stone columns on the bridge are engraved with exquisite lotuses and stone lions, and these lotus carvings are the originals from the Song Dynasty. A pair of piers on the Xiangfu Bridge is also engraved with lotuses. The upper part of the piers is decorated with droopy lotus leaves, and the lower half is with the roots of many lotuses, which are integrated with the lotus leaves above. It’s lifelike and exquisite in workmanship. The unique structure of Xiangfu Bridge is very rare among the ancient bridges in Hangzhou. It is both innovative and practical.
In addition, the name of the bridge “祥符桥 (Xiangfu Bridge)” is engraved on the inner and outer sides of the railings of the bridge using different fonts and engraving methods. On one side, the official script in intaglio (called “yin” engraving method in Chinese) is used and on the other, the regular script in big characters in relief (called “yang” engraving method in Chinese) is used. The harmony of “yin” and “yang” on the bridge embodies the yin and yang thought in traditional Chinese culture and contains the interaction and integration of man and nature.
Xiangfu Street was originally Xiangfu Town. Because of its developed water system, since the Southern Song Dynasty, the town had been an important transportation hub for tea, flowers and grain, and the business was very prosperous. On both sides of Xiangfu Bridge were once bustling markets, where rice markets, vegetable markets, flour shops, butcher’s shops, etc. were located, and many wooden-structured shops are still preserved today.
Today, there are Xiangfu Straight Street (祥符直街) and Xiangfu North Street (祥符直街) on the banks of Xiangfu Bridge. These streets are flanked by many commercial and residential houses, including the coon shop built in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China (cocoon silk centralized purchase place) and the former site of the grain station that are full of common people’s style. It shows that the surrounding area of the bridge is the epitome of the commercial culture, transportation culture and civic culture formed by river transportation in Hangzhou from the late Qing Dynasty to the initial post-liberation period. This not only carries people's old memories but also reflects the market town culture with common people’s style that belongs to Xiangfu Street.