【Ming Dynasty】Gongchen Bridge

Gongchen Bridge (拱宸桥) spans the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal from east to west and is the southernmost ending point of the canal. The bridge was first built in 1631, the fourth year of the Chongzhen Years of the Ming Dynasty, and rebuilt in 1888, the eleventh year of the Guangxu Years of the Qing Dynasty. It measures 92 meters in total length. The bridge body is built with overlapped stone strips, with long stones running through it. The bridge deck is arc-shaped. It is a three-hole stone arch bridge with thin bridge piers. It is the largest stone arch bridge in the urban area of Hangzhou, and is also a landmark structure in the Gongchen Bridge area.

In 2021, it was selected into the list of "Top Ten Representative Historical and Cultural Buildings in Hangzhou" by the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV and Tourism. The reason for the selection: Gongchen Bridge is the symbol of the southern end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. It has witnessed historical changes in Hangzhou, where the canal has brought it prosperity and fame. It is one of Hangzhou's most important urban landmarks.