Anshun Bridge 安顺廊桥

About Anshun Bridge

The present bridge is a reconstruction following the loss of earlier versions to floods, so its value for a visitor lies in the riverside composition and its connection with Chengdu’s long river-crossing history. View it from the bank first to see the roof and arches together; restaurant access is a separate commercial visit.

In the 13th century, Marco Polo wrote about the bridge, then called Anshun Bridge, as one of several bridges he described in China. Later known as Changhong Bridge (长虹桥), it was renovated in 1677 and connected Da'an Street to Wannianqiao Street across the Jin River as a two-level wooden structure, with statues of deities on the upper level and a pedestrian and goods route below; it was rebuilt repeatedly after flood damage, including major reconstructions in 1744 and 1746. After 1949 the new Chengdu municipal government rebuilt it as a simpler one-level wooden pedestrian bridge; a further reconstruction in 1974 produced a bridge completed in 1978, which collapsed in a flood in 1981.

In 1978 the government built a separate vehicle-accessible New Anshun Bridge at Shierbei Street to meet growing traffic needs. As part of a 1996 restoration project along the Fu and Nan rivers, the damaged old bridge was dismantled and redesigned as a three-arch replica combining historical and commercial features; the rebuilt structure, renamed Anshun Langqiao (安顺廊桥) to reflect its covered-bridge and building form, was constructed between 2000 and completed in August 2003.

What to look for

• The covered roof and arches form a distinctive profile across the Jin River.
• The riverbank reveals the bridge’s relationship with the surrounding waterfront.

Location & getting there

Getting to Anshun Bridge

The named address is 66 Binjiang East Road in Jinjiang district, near Hejiang Pavilion. Arrive at the riverside public path for an exterior view before deciding whether to enter the restaurant.