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July 21, 2014

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Historic bridges to undergo emergency repairs

EMERGENCY repairs are to be carried out on historic bridges in Qingpu District, the district government said at the weekend.

Bridges with particular historic value will get priority in a project to restore more than 50 stone bridges — many dating back hundreds of years.

However, no timescale or cost for the work was given.

Qingpu is home to 100 historic bridges, including many built in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Some 44 are arched bridges.

Over the years, some still in use have been badly damaged and pose safety risks, while others no longer used have fallen into decay, a survey by political advisors discovered.

“Emergency repairs must be carried out on four bridges of great historic value, while renovations should be made on 37 others in use that are badly damaged,” said Zhang Guohua, a political adviser with Qingpu District.

The remainder can be either partly repaired or better protected, added Zhang.

Qingpu District government has agreed to this.

The district government, along with construction and cultural relics protection authorities will jointly work out a plan to repair the bridges and preserve those of cultural value, especially those not already listed as protected cultural relics and which are in poor condition, the district government said in a reply to the advisers.

Only the district’s two most famous bridges are listed as the city-level protected cultural relics.

Puji Bridge in Jinze Town dates from 1203, during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279), while Fangsheng Bridge — the Setting Fish Free Bridge — was built around 1573 in Zhujiajiao Town. Its name comes from a festival custom to release fish and turtles from the bridge to bring good luck.

Another 27 bridges are listed as district-level protected cultural relics.

But those not afforded protection bear the signs of wear and tear, misuse and neglect.

Three were demolished or buried in the Xujin Town, while two have collapsed in Jinze and Zhujiajiao, the survey found.

Another 12 are on the verge of collapse, it added.

Taiping Bridge in Zhujiajiao Town is now an “island” in the middle of the river, its sections at each bank collapsed.

And Aiqi Bridge, an arched stone bridge built in 1379, became unstable after the Baihe Town government allowed vehicles to cross it, according to the survey.

Shanghai has 300 bridges from the Ming and Qing dynasties and earlier, most in poor repair and long out of use.

The city’s Cultural Relics Management Commission said criteria for bridges to be listed include the condition, architectural and artistic value and stories behind the structure.




 

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