China - Seventeen-Arch Bridge 十七孔橋

 

Stamp Issue : 2008-05-10 

Seventeen-Arch Bridge (Shiqikong Qiao) is a continuous stone arch bridge. It is one of the famous scenic spots in Beijing's Summer Palace (Yiheyuan). With the deck 6.56 meters wide on the top, 4.6 meters wide on the bottom and 7 meters in height, Seventeen-Arch Bridge is named for its 17 arches and looks magnificent.
Connecting the Kuoru Pavilion (Octagonal Pavilion, Grand Pavilion) situated on the east bank of Kunming Lake in the east and Nanhu Island (South Lake Island) in the west, Seventeen-Arch Bridge is 150 meters long and 8 meters wide. It is ranked the longest and the largest amongst ancient Chinese gardens.
The stones are exquisitely carved on the bridge. There are 544 stones lions in different poses carved on the stone balustrades. At both ends of the bridge, there are vividly craved strange stone animals. Sitting on east side of the bridge is a Bronze Ox guarding the river to prevent flooding.

十七孔橋是是一座連拱石橋，北京頤和園中著名的景點之一。橋面下寬14.6公尺，橋面上寬6.56公尺，高7公尺。整座橋給人以一種雄偉高大之感。這座橋共有17個橋洞，所以叫十七孔橋。
它東連廓如亭，西接南湖島，長150公尺，寬8公尺，堪稱中國園林中最大的橋梁。
橋上石雕極其精美，每個橋欄的望柱上都雕有神態各異的獅子，大小共計544隻，橋頭還有石雕異獸，十分生動。橋的東邊有一尊鎮水銅牛。