Rucheng Pingzheng Bridge

In the mid-fifteenth century, during the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty, builders in Rucheng County raised a wooden bridge across the Shoushui River. The Crown Prince’s Grand Guardian, Zhu Ying, watched travelers cross this early span, writing verses that captured the busy ferry scene and the quiet anglers nearby. By 1689, the wooden beams had decayed. Lu Bin, the magistrate of Guiyang, recognized that the growing trade on the city's west side required a permanent crossing. He ordered the construction of a three-span stone arch bridge, built entirely of local green sandstone.

The Pingzheng Bridge—also known as the Tangjiamiao Bridge—stands as a monument of engineering and social history. It measures 34.4 meters long, 5 meters wide, and 4.6 meters high. Over the centuries, the physical growth of Luyang Town altered the river itself. South bank residents gradually built their homes into the riverbed, swallowing the southernmost arch. This third arch now rests underground, functioning as a dry approach ramp, while only two open arches remain visible over the water.

Walking across the green sandstone deck, visitors can feel the cool, textured surface of the masonry. The two remaining arches form circular reflections on the river, mimicking full moons against the water. In the autumn, dry leaves rustle underfoot, while the summer brings the sound of children splashing near the stone foundations. The bridge sits downstream from the Huitong Bridge and just a short walk from the Rucheng Wen Tower and Datong Bridge. Together, these structures form a preserved historical corridor. The Pingzheng Bridge remains a functional path, carrying the daily footsteps of residents over the same waters that Zhu Ying observed six centuries ago.