ARTS / CULTURE & LEISURE
Fujian, Hunan, Zhejiang found to have most covered bridges
3-year national drive to restore heritage pays off
Spanning from 2023 to 2025, a national action plan to protect China's covered bridges has now unveiled its findings, revealing there are a total of 2,193 such structures nationwide, according to data released by the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) on Thursday.
Historic covered bridges are best described as "a form of architecture with history," Tian Lin, director of the Institute of Architecture and Public Art at the Chinese National Academy of Arts, told the Global Times. Compared to other immovable ancient buildings, covered bridges' most distinctive feature is that they are "not only historical but also still serve practical functions, such as supporting transportation and community activities."
"Based on China's geographical conditions and living habits, covered bridges are more common in the southern regions," Tian remarked.
So far, the three Chinese provinces with the largest number of covered bridges are Fujian with 547, Hunan with 516, and Zhejiang with 296. Taking Hunan Province as an example, its Huaihua city is even considered the cradle of covered bridges.
An iconic bridge in the city is called Huilong Bridge. It was built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The bridge features a curved arch, resembling a circling dragon. It also houses cultural spaces such as the Wenchang Pavilion within its structure, showcasing the architectural craftsmanship of the local Dong ethnic minority group.
In Fujian the "No.1" covered bridge province, bridges there are not only abundant but also hold scientific value for architectural engineering.
"It is because of its historical, artistic, and scientific engineering values that make those covered bridges worthy of conservation," ancient architectural expert Guo Long told the Global Times. He also highlighted that based on the evaluation of these parameters, "Architectural heritage can be better classified into different tiers and protected through more structured planning."
Since the national plan started in 2023, so far, the record of China's covered bridges has increased by 838 to reach the current number of 2,193. These cultural relics are classified into different levels of protection units based on their significance, including 51 at the national level, 509 at the municipal or county level, and 947 registered as immovable cultural relics without a designated level.
To better conserve them, the three-year plan outlined detailed on-site efforts that have been carried out nationwide, including the collection of digital imagery, panoramic imaging, restoration work, and the improvement of surrounding environments. Priority has been given to the restoration of first-tier yet severely damaged bridges such as Wan'an Bridge in Pingnan county, Fujian Province.
Wan'an Bridge is a 900-year-old nationally protected ancient structure. It collapsed due to a fire in 2022. During its restoration, the principle of maximizing the reuse of original components was strictly followed. The local government also enlisted intangible cultural heritage (ICH) experts skilled in the traditional techniques of wooden arch covered bridges to oversee the work, ensuring that the bridge was restored to its original form.
"Covered bridges, along with many other ancient architectures, face challenges from both natural and man-made disasters, especially since many of them are vulnerable wooden structures," said Tian, while also added that "protecting such architectural heritage is a race against time."
Over the past three years, a total of 107 safety and fire protection projects for covered bridges have been carried out nationwide, with 81 completed and 26 currently underway. With a total investment of 77 million yuan ($11.2 million), the coverage of safety and fire protection facilities for covered bridges designated as national and provincial protected sites has been significantly increased.
The three-year plan also promoted China's ICH techniques for traditional construction. In 2025, training courses for the "Cultural Heritage + ICH" preservation of wooden arch bridges and Dong ethnic wooden construction techniques were launched in Zhejiang and Guangxi, aiming to cultivate more inheritors of these architectural ICH skills.
In December 2024, the "Traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges" was successfully transferred from UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This shift indirectly demonstrates that "The international community increasingly recognizes China as the country with the deepest history of wooden architecture," said Guo.
Historic covered bridges are best described as "a form of architecture with history," Tian Lin, director of the Institute of Architecture and Public Art at the Chinese National Academy of Arts, told the Global Times. Compared to other immovable ancient buildings, covered bridges' most distinctive feature is that they are "not only historical but also still serve practical functions, such as supporting transportation and community activities."
"Based on China's geographical conditions and living habits, covered bridges are more common in the southern regions," Tian remarked.
So far, the three Chinese provinces with the largest number of covered bridges are Fujian with 547, Hunan with 516, and Zhejiang with 296. Taking Hunan Province as an example, its Huaihua city is even considered the cradle of covered bridges.
An iconic bridge in the city is called Huilong Bridge. It was built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The bridge features a curved arch, resembling a circling dragon. It also houses cultural spaces such as the Wenchang Pavilion within its structure, showcasing the architectural craftsmanship of the local Dong ethnic minority group.
In Fujian the "No.1" covered bridge province, bridges there are not only abundant but also hold scientific value for architectural engineering.
Luanfeng Bridge Photo: VCG
First built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Luanfeng Bridge is the longest single-span wooden arch covered bridge in China. Stretching 47.6 meters in total length, it is constructed without a single nail or piece of metal, relying entirely on sunmao (mortise-and-tenon) joints. Meanwhile, the bridge also carries historical meaning, as it once bore China's Red Army during the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45)."It is because of its historical, artistic, and scientific engineering values that make those covered bridges worthy of conservation," ancient architectural expert Guo Long told the Global Times. He also highlighted that based on the evaluation of these parameters, "Architectural heritage can be better classified into different tiers and protected through more structured planning."
Since the national plan started in 2023, so far, the record of China's covered bridges has increased by 838 to reach the current number of 2,193. These cultural relics are classified into different levels of protection units based on their significance, including 51 at the national level, 509 at the municipal or county level, and 947 registered as immovable cultural relics without a designated level.
To better conserve them, the three-year plan outlined detailed on-site efforts that have been carried out nationwide, including the collection of digital imagery, panoramic imaging, restoration work, and the improvement of surrounding environments. Priority has been given to the restoration of first-tier yet severely damaged bridges such as Wan'an Bridge in Pingnan county, Fujian Province.
Wan'an Bridge is a 900-year-old nationally protected ancient structure. It collapsed due to a fire in 2022. During its restoration, the principle of maximizing the reuse of original components was strictly followed. The local government also enlisted intangible cultural heritage (ICH) experts skilled in the traditional techniques of wooden arch covered bridges to oversee the work, ensuring that the bridge was restored to its original form.
"Covered bridges, along with many other ancient architectures, face challenges from both natural and man-made disasters, especially since many of them are vulnerable wooden structures," said Tian, while also added that "protecting such architectural heritage is a race against time."
Over the past three years, a total of 107 safety and fire protection projects for covered bridges have been carried out nationwide, with 81 completed and 26 currently underway. With a total investment of 77 million yuan ($11.2 million), the coverage of safety and fire protection facilities for covered bridges designated as national and provincial protected sites has been significantly increased.
The three-year plan also promoted China's ICH techniques for traditional construction. In 2025, training courses for the "Cultural Heritage + ICH" preservation of wooden arch bridges and Dong ethnic wooden construction techniques were launched in Zhejiang and Guangxi, aiming to cultivate more inheritors of these architectural ICH skills.
In December 2024, the "Traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges" was successfully transferred from UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This shift indirectly demonstrates that "The international community increasingly recognizes China as the country with the deepest history of wooden architecture," said Guo.
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