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Home > Travel China > China Attractions > Zhaozhou Bridge
Zhaozhou Bridge
China, an East Asian country is one of the world’s oldest civilizations. It has a vast cultural history of more than five thousand years and an outstanding natural beauty. On the other hand, this country has remained a comparatively isolated and secluded one, and being a land of mystery, this country is not known to the western half of the world. However, China is rapidly developing and has grown in the phase of modernization, with an immense speed and is also welcoming the outer world to interact and do business with them.
The Zhaozhou Bridge is the world's oldest open-spandrel segmental arch bridge located in the Hebei Province and the oldest standing bridge in China. It is also known as the Safe Crossing Bridge and the Great Stone Bridge. It crosses the Jiao River in Zhao County, 40 kilometers southeast of the provincial capital Shijiazhuang. It is named for the Zhao County, which was known as Zhaozhou. The bridge is about 50 meters long with a central span of about 37 meters. It stands 7.3 meters tall and has a width of 9 meters.
The Zhaozhou Bridge’s arch covers a circle segment less than a semicircle and has a low rise-to-span ratio of approximately 1 is to 5 and subjects the abutments of the bridge to large forces. The central arch is made of 28 thin, curved limestone slabs which are joined with iron dovetails. This allows the arch to adjust shifts in its supports, and prevents the bridge from collapsing even when a segment of the arch breaks. The bridge has two small side arches on either side of the main arch serving two important functions, they reduce the total weight of the bridge by about 15.3 percent or approximately 700 tons and when the bridge is submerged during a flood, they allow water to pass through and reduce the forces on the structure of the bridge.
The Zhaozhou Bridge was constructed in the years 595-605 during the Sui Dynasty by Li Chun. It has withstood 10 floods, eight battles, and many earthquakes including a 7.2 degree earthquake in 1966. Only the ornamental railings have been replaced every few hundred years. China is a popular travel destination for visitors and globe trotters from all over the world who appreciate its beautiful landscapes, rich culture, delicious local cuisine, hospitality and safety. Quality is China's top priority.
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