China - Rainbow Wind and Rain Bridge 虹橋風雨樓

 

Stamp Issue : 2009-06-23 

The Rainbow Wind and Rain Bridge (Hongqiao Fengyulou) spans the Tuo River of the Phoenix County (Fenghuang County) in Hunan Province. Originally named the Crouching Rainbow bridge, erected in 1670 (the 9th year of the reign of Qing Emperor Kangxi), the stone arch bridge was built with the local red stone. Restored in 1914, it is renamed to Rainbow Bridge (Hongqiao).
With two piers and three arches in boat-shape, not only beautiful, the piers reduce the river flow momentum. Along each side of the original bridge, built are the 12 wooden houses as if they are hanging over the bridge (Diaojiaolou Mubanfang) are used for restaurants and retail shops. The pedestrian promenade in the center is two meter wide. The roof added on top of the promenade keeps the wind and rain out. Hence, the bridge is also called the Wind and Rain Bridge.
In 1955, with the structures removed, the bridge was turned into a road bridge. Starting in 1999, it took a year to reconstruct the houses and restore the bridge to its original look. Both sides of the bridges are for shops and retail use again.

虹橋風雨樓跨越湖南省鳳凰縣的沱江，原名臥虹橋，建於1670年（清康熙九年)，完全用當地紅條石砌成的石拱橋。1914年重修，改名虹橋。
橋有2墩3孔，橋墩呈船形，不僅美觀大方，且能減輕和分解流水衝力。原橋面兩側各建有12間吊腳樓木板房，開設飲食、百貨店鋪，中間為2公尺寬人行長廊，廊上方建有屋頂，行走廊中，可避風雨，故又稱風雨樓。
1955年曾將橋上建築物拆除，修成公路橋。1999年起歷時一年，修復了虹橋風雨樓，橋梁兩邊仍作為店鋪。