Bazi Bridge Historic District
八字桥
Completed in 1256 during the Southern Song dynasty and called China's oldest interchange bridge, its figure-eight stone beam bridge joins three waterways and is surrounded by the most authentic Shaoxing water-town lanes.
Bazi Bridge sits at the junction of Bazi Bridge Straight Street and Guangning Bridge Straight Street in the eastern part of Shaoxing's old town. It was first built during the Southern Song dynasty, in the Jiating era, and rebuilt in the 4th year of Baoyou (1256). It is one of the oldest surviving urban stone beam bridges in China. Its approach steps extend east, west and south, giving it a figure-eight shape that gave the bridge its name. One bridge spans three rivers and links four roads, which is why it is called China's oldest interchange bridge. The stone beams and piers retain their original Song-dynasty construction. In 2014 it was listed as a World Heritage site as part of the Grand Canal. The historic district around the bridge includes the Ming and Qing bridges of Guangning Bridge, Dongshuang Bridge and Fangche Bridge, along with taimen houses, riverside landing steps, and old-fashioned barbershops and general stores along Bazi Bridge Straight Street. It has almost no commercialisation and is a living sample of old Shaoxing life. Within the district you can also visit Bazi Bridge Catholic Church, built in the late Qing, and the ancient towpath toward Dongpu. How to visit: walk about 20 minutes from Cangqiao Straight Street or Lu Xun's Former Residence, strolling slowly along the river to see the bridges. Early morning is the best time for photography, when residents do laundry at the riverside landing steps and old men sit idly at the bridgeheads. You can see most of it in about an hour. Combined with Shusheng Guli (Jiezhu Temple, Tishan Bridge and Jishan Hill), it makes a walking route through the eastern old town. Admission is free. Getting there: take Metro Line 1 to Renmin East Road station, or take a bus to the Bazi Bridge stop. Notes: this is a residential area, so keep quiet and do not disturb residents; the bridge steps have no railings, so take care; there are few restaurants nearby, so eat at Cangqiao Straight Street.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Zhou Enlai's Ancestral Home
- Shen Garden
- Lu Xun's Hometown
- Shusheng Guli (Jishan Historic Quarter)
- Former Residence of Cai Yuanpei
- Xianheng Tavern
- Cangqiao Straight Street
- Qingteng Studio (Former Residence of Xu Wei)