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Cross Bridge

This is a very rare bridge in China; in fact, probably only one of its types still exists in the country. Named Yuzhaofeiliang (Flying Bridge over Fish Pond), it is situated in front of the Hall of the Goddess in Jinci Temple of Shanxi Province. It is a stone bridge with 'wings' so that it looks like a cross. The main bridge floor is 18 by 6 meters, while each wing spreads 6 meters long and 4 meters wide. Erected over a pond, in which fish play about, it also looks like a huge bird about to take off. Sightseers may get on it from any direction and cross the lake anyway they want.

According to recorded history, such cross bridges began to be built as early as the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 A.D.). The existing one just described is thought to have been built during the Northern Song (960-1127 A.D.) at the same time as the Hall of the Goddess. Nearly a thousand years old, it is generally regarded as a treasure among ancient Chinese bridges.

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