Guangji Bridge, located on the Hanjiang River in Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province, China, is a unique bridge integrating beam bridge, pontoon bridge and arch bridge. Because of its unique structure and design, Guangji Bridge is known as the "living fossil" of ancient Chinese bridges, and it is also the earliest existing opening and closing bridge in the world.
The idiom "crossing a river and demolishing a bridge" is often used as a metaphor for turning one's face ruthlessly after achieving one's goal, without regard for the interests of others. The design of Guangji Bridge is just the opposite, it reflects the wisdom and practicality of the ancients in bridge design. With a total length of 518 meters, the construction process of Guangji Bridge was extremely difficult due to the turbulent water flow and complex geology of the riverbed. In order to adapt to the changes in water flow and tides, the ancients skillfully designed the bridge into a structure that can be opened and closed.
The middle section of the bridge is connected by eighteen wooden boats, called the pontoon part, which can float up and down with the rise and fall of the water level, which is not only convenient for the passage of boats, but also ensures the structural safety of the bridge. When it is necessary to let the boats pass, the boats in the pontoon section can be untied to form a waterway; When pedestrians or vehicles are needed, the boats are connected to build a complete bridge. This design fully takes into account the actual needs of the river, showing the wisdom of the ancients and the pragmatism of bridge design.
Therefore, Guangji Bridge is not a realistic version of "crossing the river and demolishing the bridge", but the ancients creatively solved a series of problems in bridge construction in order to adapt to the natural environment and actual needs, showing the wisdom of harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature. Today, this bridge with a history of nearly 1,000 years still stands on the Hanjiang River, witnessing the historical changes and cultural heritage of Chaozhou.