Duyun Baizi Bridge (都匀百子桥), also known as Tangjia Bridge, spans across the Jian River and serves as the flagship bridge of Duyun, the “Bridge City”. Stretching 140 meters long, 8 meters wide, and standing at a height of 11.5 meters, it is a seven-arch stone bridge constructed during the fifty-first year of the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong reign (1786). Financed solely by local resident Tang Wensheng, who exhausted his family fortune over five years to build it, the bridge was constructed with the hope of securing descendants as Tang himself had reached middle age with no offspring.
Upon completion, Sun Tingxiang, the magistrate of Duyun, honored the bridge with a plaque bearing the inscription “Half the credit of Luoyang (功半洛阳),” a tribute to its grandeur. Subsequently, Tang Wensheng’s descendants added the “Songcui Pavilion (耸翠亭)” to the bridge. Renowned Qing Dynasty historian and Guizhou academician Hong Liangji ascended the pavilion to compose the poem “Climbing the Songcui Pavilion on the Jian River, Gazing at the Northwestern Mountains.” During the early years of the Republic of China, Governor Ren Kecheng of Guizhou inscribed the three characters “Tangjia Bridge (唐家桥)” on the bridgehead.
Following the liberation of China, Duyun Baizi Bridge continued to serve as a thoroughfare, with pedestrian walkways and iron railings added to both sides of the bridge deck. In 1986, a new highway bridge was constructed, relegating Baizi Bridge to secondary status. Subsequently, a quaint bridge pavilion with a tiled roof was built atop the bridge, with hexagonal pavilions featuring pointed roofs erected at both ends, and stone lions placed at the bridgehead. Bamboo and trees were also planted, transforming the bridge into a scenic spot for leisurely strolls.
Initially constructed by Tang Wensheng in pursuit of progeny, Baizi Bridge has evolved into a cultural hub where Duyun residents gather for leisure and entertainment with the evolution of society and changing times,. Additionally, it serves as a unique marketplace for trading ethnic and folk crafts, reflecting its multifaceted role in the community’s social and economic fabric.
Location and Transportation
Duyun Baizi Bridge is located at 16 Hebin Road, Duyun City, Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, China. Positioned in the heart of Duyun City, it stands as a prominent landmark within the urban landscape.
To get there, you can take bus 8, 11, 17, 35, Duyun 30, Duyun 36, or Duyun 9 and get off at Baiziqiao Stop (百子桥站).
