Zhaozhou Bridge Bridge

Address: Zhaozhou (Anji) Bridge, Zhao County, Hebei Province, China

Hours: Open 24/7

Admission: Free (outdoor historic bridge)

An historic stone arch bridge in Hebei province, China, commonly known as Zhaozhou or Anji Bridge, constructed during the early 7th century and celebrated for its engineering.

A single masonry arch bridge crossing a river channel, notable for its shallow segmental arch profile and carved stone elements; it is frequently studied by engineers and historians for its innovative design. The bridge can be viewed from nearby banks and walkways that allow observation of its arches and spandrels.

Built in 605 AD during the Sui dynasty and attributed to the engineer Li Chun, the bridge is an early example of sophisticated stone arch construction and has survived through repairs and conservation over many centuries. It has been cited in engineering history as a key development in bridge design.

Located in Zhao County, Hebei province, the bridge spans a river channel and is reachable from nearby county roads and local transport links.

• Date and significance: Constructed in the Sui dynasty and historically attributed to the engineer Li Chun, it is widely cited as the oldest surviving open-spandrel stone segmental arch bridge.
• Engineering note: The bridge’s stone arch design reduced the rise-to-span ratio compared with semicircular bridges of the period, a notable engineering innovation.

• Visit in the morning or late afternoon to see the bridge from both riverbanks with softer light and fewer tour buses; the site is compact so timing controls crowding.
• Walk the low riverbank viewpoints (when water levels permit) to examine the bridge's inventive open-spandrel design up close-this gives a much better appreciation of its engineering than viewing from the road only.
• Combine the visit with a short tour of nearby Zhao County to see local historical streets and inscriptions related to the bridge that many day‑trippers miss.