Amongst the impressive and visually striking attractions in Chengdu, the ancient Anshun Bridge is well worth visiting and photographing and here’s more on what you need to know.
Getting There
This bridge is in the city’s east-central area and can be found next to Hejiang Pavilion along the Funan River. It’s located within easy reach of Wangjianglou Park, Sichuan University and properties like Ascott Qinhuang Chengdu. Apart from taking a taxi, you can reach this site via the metro (get off at the Dongmen Bridge or Niuwangmiao station) or bus to the Jiuyanqiao South Station (bus #12, 34, 92).
A Rich History
Before heading to Anshun Bridge from one of the hotels or apartments Chengdu has to offer, look to find out more about it. For example, it dates to 1746 during the time of the Yuan Dynasty, though there existed an even earlier version of it that Marco Polo wrote about in the 13th century. The bridge you see today is a rebuilt structure due to a flood that destroyed the old one.
Striking Design
The bridge features architectural design styles of the Qing and Ming Dynasties and one will find fascinating patterns on its handrails with symbols from Chinese folk culture; these include elements like bamboo and orchid. Spanning a length of 81 metres, the structure has a memorial archway on either side, while there are two statues of water beasts on the pier as well.
Visitor Highlights
Now that you’ve read all about Anshun Bridge, here’s what you can do there! Don’t miss photographing it, especially at night when it’s lit up and provides a stunning backdrop. What you may not know, is that on the bridge is a fine dining restaurant too serving an array of delectable delights. The area around here is home to bars, tea houses, eateries, and entertainment venues as well so you can look forward to enjoying some nightlife in Chengdu.
