Qinghua Rainbow Bridge (清华彩虹桥), located in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province, is an ancient covered bridge with unique architectural features. Stretching approximately 140 meters in length and 3.1 meters in width, the bridge is composed of two approach bridges, four piers, five arches, and six pavilions connected by five corridors. Within the pavilions, visitors can find stone tables and benches, providing a place to rest and enjoy the scenic views.
A notable feature of the bridge is the shrine situated on the second pier from the east, which is dedicated to the legendary figure Yu the Great. The couplets on either side of the shrine are lines from Li Bai’s poem “Autumn Climb to Xie Tiao’s North Tower in Xuancheng,” which read: “Two waters mirror the sky, a double rainbow bridges the river.”
The overall structure of Qinghua Rainbow Bridge is simple yet elegant, blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape of green mountains, water, ancient villages, and old roads. This integration with the environment has made the bridge a symbolic landmark of Wuyuan, often referred to as “China’s most beautiful countryside.” The bridge stands as one of the best-preserved and scientifically designed ancient covered bridges, embodying the essence of ancient Huizhou architecture and serving as a model in the history of bridge construction.
The Qinghua Rainbow Bridge was constructed during the Southern Song Dynasty, between the years 1127 and 1204. The project was initiated by a local monk, Hu Jixiang, who raised a significant amount of funds over more than three years through alms collection. The design and construction were overseen by the water conservancy and bridge engineering expert Hu Yongban, and the bridge was completed after more than four years of meticulous work.
In a remarkable historical event, as the final tiles were being placed on the bridge, a vivid rainbow appeared in the western sky. Hu Jixiang and Hu Yongban interpreted this as a good omen and a symbol of beauty and auspiciousness for the people of Qinghua. They immediately had the villagers celebrate by setting off fireworks, and it was unanimously decided that the bridge should be named “Rainbow Bridge.” To honor the two founders, a shrine was established in the central pavilion of the bridge. On the right side is the shrine for Hu Jixiang, on the left for Hu Yongban, and in the middle stands the shrine for Yu the Great. The inclusion of Yu the Great, revered as a deity who controls floods and considered an ancestor of the Hu family, symbolizes the bridge’s protection against floods and serves to safeguard the ancient structure.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 hour |
| Ticket Price | 60 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 7.30 – 17.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0793-7410999 |
Location and Transportation
Rainbow Bridge is located at the western end of Shangjie Street in Qinghua Town, Wuyuan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province. To get there, you can take a bus from the Wuyuan Bus Station to Qinghua Village.
