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| Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge |
 Dongzu has a long history; it has a culture, which is simple and glorious. The Dong people are passionate with strong feelings. Dong stockade villages are special and different from other places; most of the Dong stockade villages were built either side of rivers or brooks, and so people lived opposite each other across the water. Corridors and kiosks were built above the bridges; the bridges were not only used and still today for people passing but also to avoid the wind and rain. So they are called Wind and Rain Bridge.
San Jiang is located at the connecting point North of Guangxi, Hunan and Guizhou; it is an autonomous region mainly consisting mainly of Dongzu, which makes up for more than 54% of the people of the whole of the county.
Although it itself is not very special, San Jiang has marvellous scenery in the Dong stockade villages. The most famous thing about San Jiang is the Chengyang Bridge so as to make it to be famous. Chengyang Bridge is constructed above the Linxi River of San Jiang County.
Chengyang Bridge is also called Yongji Bridge or Panlong Bridge. It was built in 1916, and it is the best one among the wind and rain bridges in Dong stockade villages. At present, it is the largest wind and rain bridge also it is the crystal of Dong people's wisdom; it is one of the artistic precious things of Chinese wood architectures.
This bridge is made of wood and stone, making it a large bridge stretching across the Linxi River, having 5 stone-made large columns. Fir and wood board cover the surface of the bridge. Moreover, the bridge is 64.4 meters long, 3.4 meters wide and 10.6 meters high.
Both sides of the bridge are inlayed with railing, so the whole bridge looks like a long corridor; in the bridge, there are 5 tower-like kiosks with many horns. The brims of the kiosks rise like stretching wings; the pilaster, tile brims and carved flower and pictures are magnificent.
The whole bridge is grand, like a brilliant rainbow, the most amazing thing in its construction is that no nails were used in the building of the whole bridge; pieces of wood in the bridge are closely jointed. Long stools were set up on both sides of the bridge for people to rest. From the stools where people sat you could see the Linxi River windingly flow; on both sides of the river it was full of tea forest and green woods on the sloping hills. Also you could see that the peasants were working in the plantations; there is also a reservoir on one side of the river.
A poem and the name of the bridge were engraved at one end of the bridge, they were written by one of the most famous poets of our country-Guo Moruo in 1965.
The unusual finished Wind and Rain Bridge, high and grand drum tower, the local houses with special styles, and the green hills and green water make up elegant pictures of traditions. Chengyang is not only famous for the wind and rain bridges, but also the Chengyang Eight Stockade Villages, which is the soul of Dongzu's culture.
On the hillsides beside the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge, there are many huge mill wheels; you can hear the voice of the slowly running non-stop water turning around the wheels. On the hillsides beside the river, there are many layers of Dong Diaojiao Lou. By living here, you will feel the Dong's customs and Dong's local cultures.
TOUR TRANSPORTATION
ROAD:
From Guilin directly to Longsheng by bus.
The bus sets out at noon for a 4-hour journey to Longsheng; the ticket price is a little more than 10 Yuan. From Longsheng to Sanjiang will take about 3 hours; the ticket price is around 10 Yuan. Then a bus from Sanjiang to Chengyang; the ticket price is 3 Yuan. To Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge by motor, it will cost you 10 Yuan.
RAILWAY:
By taking the No. T5 train to Liuzhou, then change to the No.5536 train to Sanjiang County (ticket price 19 Yuan), then carry on to Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge by other means of transport.
ACCOMADATION
Inside the county: The average price of the hostels is from 15 Yuan to 50 Yuan.
Wind and Rain Hostel is on one border of Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge. Located by the ticket selling office next to the Wind and Rain Bridge. Prices are from 10-20 Yuan per night.
Chengyang Bridge Rest House
Location: Left side of the Wind and Rain Bridge.
Price: 10 Yuan/person (no matter how many persons in one room).
The Drum Tower folk hostel
Location: On the right hillside near the Wind and Rain Bridge.
Price: 20Yuan/night. There are fax machines and computers here, the Internet cost 5 Yuan/hour
FOOD
Inside the county: Rice noodles: 1Yuan 5 Jiao/2 Liang, 2 Yuan/3 Liang;
Snacks: 3-10 Yuan/Fen.
Inside the home hostel: Noodles: 2 Yuan/bowl; Tu Chicken: 30 Yuan/ chicken; Stir-fried vegetables: 5Yuan/dish; Vegetables stir-fried with preserved ham: 8Yuan/dish; Vegetable soup: 2 Yuan/bowl; Coffee: 4 Yuan/ cup; Milk: 3 Yuan/glass; Pie: 2-3Yuan/piece.
Acid fish and acid meat.
Tuotuo Dinner: made with sticky rice.
FRIENDLY HINTS
There are IC telephone kiosks in front of both Wind and Rain Bridge ticket-selling place's and at Ma'an Old Tower.
On the Wind and Rain Bridge, there are many Dongzu old people selling craft ware.
Cloth-made aprons: 5 Yuan/apron; Dongzu's dress: 15 Yuan/suit; Lusheng: 15 Yuan/one. |
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