Zhao Zhouqiao, also known as "Anji Bridge", is located about 40 kilometers southeast of Shijiazhuang and 2.5 kilometers south of Zhaoxian. It spans the north and south banks of Lianshui, and was built from the first year to the eleventh year of Sui Daye (605-6 16) and supervised by craftsman Li Chun. It has a history of 1300 years. Because the bridge body is made of stone, it is commonly known as "Dashiqiao".
Zhao Zhouqiao has a novel structure and beautiful appearance, with a total length of 50.82 meters, a width of 9.6 meters and a span of 37.37 meters. It is a single-hole arch bridge composed of 28 independent arches. There are two small circular arches on the left and right sides of the bridge top, which are used to speed up flood discharge, reduce the weight of the bridge body and save stone. This is a pioneering work in the history of bridge construction. The guardrail posts on both sides of the bridge deck are carved with various exquisite patterns, with vigorous knives and vivid shapes. Structurally, the curved flat arch and the small arch with shoulders give people a sense of movement that is big and light and eager to fly. The lines are both rigid and soft, lighter than hidden, and meaningful and magnificent. On the main vault, there is a Longmen stone carved with a faucet, and the side of the bridge is dotted with a face stone of eight petals lotus. These statues convey the hope that the bridge will not be destroyed by water and will exist forever. Zhao Zhouqiao occupies a very important position in the history of bridges at home and abroad, and has a far-reaching influence on the bridge architecture in China.
Zhao Zhouqiao's greatest scientific contribution is to create an "open-shouldered arch", which is the first time in the history of bridges in the world. Four parallel small holes are built on the two shoulders of the big arch, which not only increases the water passage, saves the stone and reduces the weight of the bridge, but also facilitates the passive pressure of the small arch on the big arch and enhances the stability of the bridge. This effectively ensures that Anji Bridge has survived numerous floods, eight major earthquakes and the impact of heavy vehicles in the history of 1400 years, and still stands upright on the river.
The application of Zhao Zhouqiao's "open-shouldered arch" is the first time in the world bridge history. 1883, Antoinette railway bridge built by France on Argo River started the construction of long-span open-shouldered arch bridge in Europe, but it was later than Anji Bridge 1400 years ago. Western scholars admit that the open-shouldered arch building of Anji Bridge has become the ancestor of many modern reinforced concrete bridges, which has opened a generation of bridge style.
Zhao Zhouqiao is known as "the first bridge in the world" and "the miracle of the world" for its extraordinary characteristics. 196 1 on March 4th, Zhao Zhouqiao was announced by the people of China and the State Council as the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units. On September 4th, 199 1 was selected as the12nd "International Civil Engineering Milestone" by American Society of Civil Engineers. On the east side of the north end of the bridge, there is a bronze medal monument of "International Civil Engineering Historical Monument", which is famous far and wide.
Zhao Zhouqiao is another treasure of architectural art, which spans the river like a rainbow and is magnificent. On the arc-shaped flat main arch line, there are four small arches lying symmetrically, like four huge jade rings, dotted on the two shoulders of the bridge. The giant body is ethereal and the lines are bright. In the grandeur, it reveals a magnificent and light aesthetic feeling. An imaginary water-absorbing beast was created at the top of the bridge, which placed people's good wishes that the bridge would not be damaged by water and exist for a long time. All kinds of dragons, animal faces, flower ornaments, bamboo joints, etc. There are carvings on fences and sentries, among which dragons are the most exquisite. The dragon is either entrenched in the game or landed in the water, unpredictable and its expression is extremely moving. The carving method is vigorous and powerful, and the artistic style is novel and bold. 199 1 year, the American Society of Civil Engineers selected Zhao Zhouqiao, China as the 12 civil engineering milestone in international history, which added new glory to the stone arch bridge in China.
Zhao Zhouqiao was built in the great cause of the Sui Dynasty (605 ~ 6 16), designed and built by the famous craftsman Li Chun. It is the oldest open-shouldered stone arch bridge in the world. The main arch of Zhao Zhouqiao is composed of 28 arch pieces, with a length of 64.40 meters and a span of 37.02 meters. Four symmetrical small arches are added to the back of the main arch. This bridge construction method not only saves materials and reduces the dead weight of the bridge, but also increases the discharge of river water under the bridge and weakens the influence on the bridge. Adding an arch to the arch makes the bridge look exquisite and beautiful, which is indeed an epoch-making initiative in the history of bridge construction in the world.
Ancient Zhao Zhouqiao (also known as Anji Bridge), which "swallowed Zhao", is located in the throat of military strategists. Pedestrians and horses with rafts on their shoulders worked day and night. In addition, earthquakes and wars have repeatedly destroyed it. Since the Tang Dynasty, it has been restored eight times. The Zhao Zhouqiao we are seeing now is a comprehensive renovation from 1953 to 1958 after the founding of New China, which is also the largest restoration project since the bridge was built 300 years ago.
/kloc-for more than 0/000 years, it has won the world's amazement with its peculiar architectural art. Zhang, a minister in the Tang Dynasty, exclaimed in the inscription of Dashiqiao that "nature is strange and people don't know why". Liang Sicheng, a famous modern ancient architect, said that the structure of Zhao Zhouqiao "adopts a way of knowing engineering mechanics very well and extremely economical and intelligent control. ..... showing a very modern and progressive engineering spirit, which is amazing. " 199 1 year, American society of civil engineers selected Zhao Zhouqiao as "International Civil Engineering Historical Monument".