Huizhou Gongbei Bridge

Standing at the northern outlet of Huizhou West Lake, the Gongbei Bridge spans the boundary between the lake's calm waters and the flowing Dongjiang River. Known locally as the "Five-Eye Bridge" for its five semi-circular arches, this stone structure has managed the city's waterways since 1066. Originally commissioned by Prefect Chen Cheng during the Northern Song Dynasty, it was designed to regulate water levels, prevent flooding, and serve as a link along the ancient Guangzhou-Huizhou courier route.

The bridge's physical form reflects centuries of engineering refinement. Built primarily from red sandstone, the 57-meter-long structure rests on six sturdy piers. On the upstream side, triangular water-cutting prows made of dense bluestone and granite slice through the current, reducing the hydraulic pressure on the foundation. The arches themselves employ a longitudinal masonry technique, with staggered stone blocks distributing the immense weight of the structure and the force of the water. Beneath the southern edge, a five-step stone cascade slows the rushing water, protecting the riverbed from erosion.

The foundation visible today dates largely to a major reconstruction during the Ming Dynasty's Chenghua era, which solidified its five-arch design. Over the centuries, the bridge absorbed the impact of natural floods and human conflict. In October 1925, during the Second Eastern Expedition, officers and soldiers from the Whampoa Military Academy charged across these very stones to attack the north gate of Huizhou. A memorial monument now stands at the bridgehead, honoring the soldiers who fell during that campaign.

In the mid-twentieth century, the bridge adapted to modern demands. The deck was widened in 1959 to accommodate highway traffic, and automatic iron floodgates were installed beneath the arches. As newer infrastructure emerged in the following decades, traffic shifted away. Today, Gongbei Bridge serves exclusively as a pedestrian pathway. Overgrown with patches of vegetation, the ancient red sandstone and weathered bluestone parapets offer visitors a quiet space to observe the enduring engineering and layered history of Huizhou.