Unearthed bridge reveals splendor of ancient capital

As the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), Kaifeng in present-day Henan province has left a plethora of legends hailing its cultural splendor and social prosperity. The 12th-century monumental scroll painting Along the River During Qingming Festival is probably one of the most famous demonstrations of that.

Now, though the river seems to have ebbed throughout the long course of time, it still provides physical evidence for people to imagine the golden era of Kaifeng. New archaeological findings of the ruins of Zhouqiao Bridge were unveiled at a news conference by the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Wednesday in Beijing.

As a landmark work of architecture at the junction of Yujie Street — a major road on the central axis of the imperial city of Kaifeng, then called Dongjing — and the Bianhe River section of the Grand Canal, the bridge was built between 780 and 783 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and was renovated several times. It was finally buried in mud in 1642 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).