Zhaozhou Bridge, or Anji Bridge, is more than an ancient structure—it’s a mix of history and travel joy. It sits over the Xiaohe River in Zhaoxian County, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, and has stood for over 1,400 years.

Its story starts in the Sui Dynasty (581–618 CE). Designed by engineer Li Chun around 605 CE, it’s the world’s oldest surviving stone arch bridge. Back then, floods made crossing the Xiaohe River hard, so Li Chun built it to be flood-resistant and long-lasting.

Li Chun’s “open-spandrel arch” design was ahead of its time. There’s one main arch (37.02m long, 7.23m high) and four small side arches. This cut the bridge’s weight by 15.3% and let floodwater pass through, protecting the main structure. Europe didn’t use this design for 800 more years.

Local blue limestone and iron clamps made the bridge strong. No mortar was needed—stones fit perfectly. Its foundation, on firm riverbed sand, stopped sinking. It survived 10 floods, 8 earthquakes, and even a Tang Dynasty stone fall.

Now, let’s talk about visiting. The best time is March–May or September–October. The weather is mild, and you’ll avoid summer heat or winter cold.

Getting there is easy. From Shijiazhuang, take a bus to Zhaoxian County (1.5 hours, ¥15). Then take a local taxi to the bridge (10 minutes, ¥10). If driving, use navigation to “Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area”—free parking is available.

The scenic area ticket costs ¥40 (adults) and ¥20 (kids under 1.4m). Don’t miss the nearby Zhaozhou Bridge Museum. It has models and artifacts that explain the bridge’s history—entry is free with the scenic area ticket.

Plan 2–3 hours for your visit. Walk on the bridge, admire the dragon and lotus carvings, and take photos by the “Rainbow Bridge” view spot. There are small restaurants nearby serving local dishes like Hebei braised pork—try it for lunch.

Zhaozhou Bridge blends history and fun. It’s a great day trip for anyone who loves old stories and new adventures.