[Photo from en.gotohz.com]

[Photo from en.gotohz.com]

[Photo from en.gotohz.com]

Built in the fourth year of Chongzhen reign in Ming Dynasty (1631), Gongchen Bridge is a stone three-arch bridge standing across the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal. In 1986, the Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government included the bridge in its list of relics under municipal protection.

The Gongchen Bridge is the highest and longest stone arch bridge among ancient bridges in Hangzhou at 92 meters long and 16 meters high. In Chinese “Gong” literally means meeting and “Chen” refers to the place where emperors live. Gongchen Bridge served as a symbol of hospitality and respect for the king. It is the end point of the Grand Canal and a transport hub in the Hangzhou section of the Grand Canal.