Connecting the past with the future

The 12th-century monumental scroll painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival vividly showcases the cultural splendor and social prosperity of Bianjing (now Kaifeng, in Henan province), as the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). At the heart of this masterpiece lies the Hongqiao Bridge spanning the Bianhe River, resembling a vibrant rainbow teeming with bustling crowds.

Meticulous scrutiny by ancient practitioners of architecture reveals the intricate construction of the bridge, crafted using wooden sunmao (mortise-and-tenon) joints. However, these sophisticated building techniques seemed to fade into obscurity over time.

In the 1980s, scholars were delighted to discover bridges in the mountainous areas of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, which have similar and more advanced wooden structures. Different from the Hongqiao Bridge, they are covered with eaves.