Anlan Rope Bridge at Dujangyan, 1944
Item
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Title
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Anlan Rope Bridge at Dujangyan, 1944
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Identifier
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WFA_038
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Description
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Looking east over the Outer River toward the mountain where Er Lang temple is from the opposite shore. The shoreline in the photo is the artificial island that terminates with the Fishmouth, which is to the left just outside the frame. The Inner River is not seen, but one can see the two pilons that hold the bridge over it.
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Date Created
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1944-04 (Qingming Festival)
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Location
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Dujiangyan, Sichuan
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Original Format
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Black and white photographic print
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Provenance
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Passed down from K & E Willmott to Don Willmott, and then to Cory Willmott. Digitized in 2008 by Elizabeth Willmott.
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Publisher
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SIUE
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Record Date
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2024-11-17
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Contributor
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Cory Willmott
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Type
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Still Image
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abstract
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Anlan Bridge is one of the Five Ancient Bridges in China. Legend says that Li Bing himself built the Zhupu Bridge that spanned only the Inner River. This was replaced in the Song Dynasty by the Pingshi Bridge, which spanned both rivers, but was destroyed in warfare during the Ming Dynasty. The Anlan Bridge, or Couple's Bridge, was so called because it was built by a married couple to replace the treacherous and expensive ferry service that had been used since the Ming to handle traffic from the lucrative trade with Tibet. This version of the bridge, built in 1803, was farther north than the current bridge and did not set ground on the island. It was made from bamboo rope and wooden planks, which were replaced as needed to maintain it.
