Zhaozhou bridge

Anji Bridge
The Anji Bridge, still standing after 1400 years
Coordinates	37°43′13″N 114°45′48″E / 37.7203°N 114.7633°E / 37.7203; 114.7633Coordinates: 37°43′13″N 114°45′48″E / 37.7203°N 114.7633°E / 37.7203; 114.7633
Crosses	Xiao River
Locale	Zhao County in Hebei Province, China
Characteristics
Design	Open-spandrel stone segmental arch bridge
Total length	50.82 metres (167 ft)
Width	9.6 metres (31 ft)
Height	7.3 metres (24 ft)
Longest span	37.37 metres (123 ft)
History
Construction begin	595 CE
Construction end	605 CE

The Anji Bridge (simplified Chinese: 安济桥; traditional Chinese: 安濟橋; pinyin: Ānjì Qiáo; literally: "Safe crossing bridge") is the world's oldest open-spandrel segmental arch bridge of stone construction. Credited to the design of a craftsman named Li Chun, the bridge was constructed in the years 595-605 during the Sui dynasty (581–618). Located in the southern part of Hebei Province, it is the oldest standing bridge in China.

The bridge is also commonly known as the Zhaozhou Bridge (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Zhàozhōu Qiáo), after Zhao County, which was formerly known as Zhaozhou (趙州). Another name for the bridge is the Great Stone Bridge (simplified Chinese: 大石桥; traditional Chinese: 大石橋; pinyin: Dàshí Qiáo). It crosses the Xiaohe River (洨河) in Zhao County, approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) southeast of the provincial capital Shijiazhuang. It is a pedestrian bridge and is currently open to the public. In English literature, it is also referred as Chiao Shui Bridge, after the river it crosses.

Starting from 581 CE, the Sui dynasty reasserted imperial control over the competing powers that had ruled various regions of China since the decline of the Han dynasty in the third century. Thus immense public works projects were carried out, including the rebuilding of two grand imperial capitals, the excavation of the 2400-kilometer-long Grand Canal, and major improvements to the fortifications that predated the Great Wall. Economically, the long-distance transport of goods and men was a critical component to the interests and sustainability of the ruling house. The movement of goods by land south and southwest from the North China Plain to the Central Plains around Kaifeng and Luoyang followed a path that crossed the Xiao River near Luanzhou (later Zhaozhou and now Zhaoxian) in today's Hebei province. Flowing west to east through a plain that was relatively low-lying on both sides, the Xiao River was an important artery for transporting goods, but an impediment to continuous overland movement and the economic integration of China's regions.