Tourism in Guiyang Town

The town is close to the Xiangjiang River and has beautiful scenery. Within less than 1 square kilometer from the town government, there are 25 large and small scenic spots such as "three rivers and six bridges, three mountains and six ancestral halls, and three temples and one corner". They were rebuilt during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. The five-hole stone arch Zhuangyuan Bridge is particularly spectacular. The town has been listed as one of the "Top 100 Cultural Towns" in the country and the province, a pilot town for small town construction by the Ministry of Construction, a model town for small town construction in Hengyang City, a central town for small town construction in Qidong County, and a demonstration town for agricultural technology promotion in Hunan Province. , a national large-scale commercial grain production base. Not only are there many merchants here, but there are also many bridges. Guiyang’s Three Rivers and Six Bridges have long been famous throughout the world. Guiyang has aura because of water. There is a grand scene of Baihe River and Qinghe River flowing into the Xiangjiang River. Compared with the unrestrained Xiangjiang River, Baihe River is like a little jade, passing through the territory enchantingly and lying across the Baihe River. There are six ancient or modern bridges, the most famous of which is undoubtedly the Zhuangyuan Bridge, a five-hole stone arch bridge built during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that when the bridge was completed, a new scholar happened to be passing by, and the bridge got its name from this. Everything is of low quality, but only those who are good at reading, so the Zhuangyuan Bridge has become a sacred bridge in the minds of Qidong people. Most students have to walk here before the exam. It is said that they can absorb spiritual energy. This statement is not credible, but Qidong people can read, and the phenomenon of more number one scholars is related to the fact that Qidong people regard Zhuang Yuan Bridge as a spiritual totem?

It is said that the footprints on the bridge were left by the number one scholar in that year. There were many number one scholars in Qidong, and there seems to be some connection with this footprint. In order to protect the number one scholar bridge, the local people specially placed another number one on the Baihe River. Five bridges were built for traffic to pass through to relieve traffic pressure. The significance of the bridge as a link between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait has been degraded. The Zhuangyuan Bridge has now truly become a spiritual sustenance for local people to worship culture. Zhuangyuan Bridge is located at the end of Taiping Street, Guiyang Town, Qidong County, Hengyang City. It is a 5-hole stone arch bridge, 86.1 meters long, 9 meters high, and 7.95 meters wide. It is paved with bluestone slabs and spans the confluence of the Baihe River and the Xiangjiang River. There are 20 long stone pillars on each side, and 24 central bridge pavilions are built on the bridge deck. The structure is solid and the shape is generous. In the middle of the bridge pavilion is a plaque with the words "Eternally Unbreakable". There is a pair of stone lions at each bridge head, which look majestic and majestic.

According to legend, when the stone bridge was built, there happened to be a new champion passing by. At that time, both ends of the bridge were crowded with people. He said: "The bridge has just been closed, and it will be open to traffic from now on. I must recite poems, feel something, and do something. What do you think, Duke Zhuangyuan?" After pondering for a while, Duke Zhuangyuan said happily: "I am a new student in the new middle school, and I will become an official later. I will serve you well." The country benefits the people, not for fame, not for profit. The elders don't have to worry." Everyone praised it and named it Zhuangyuan Bridge. A stone tablet was erected at the south end of the Zhuangyuan Bridge, and this couplet was engraved on the bridge. The origin of the Zhuangyuan Bridge was engraved on the stone tablet to record its prosperity.

The Zhuangyuan Bridge is also known as the Immortal Bridge. There is another touching story about the origin of this name: It is said that there were exactly one hundred masons working on the bridge, but only ninety-nine people were present at each meal. Everyone speculated that the successful completion of the bridge must be due to the person who had never been there. The "immortal" at the table helps. Therefore, the bridge was named "Immortal Bridge". On the stone slab of the bridge deck, we saw a depression that resembled a footprint. The locals said it was left by the helping immortals who ascended to heaven after the bridge was completed. Everyone called it "immortal's foot". There is a "fairy foot" on the stone pavement of the bridge deck, which is 28 cm long and 16 cm wide, about the same size as a human foot. When tourists pass by this place, they always step on the "immortal feet" with their bare feet to soak up the immortal energy, which can bring blessings and longevity [2]. The Zhuangyuan Bridge is entirely made of bluestone. Each square stone weighs several tons, and the light ones weigh several hundred kilograms. There is no adhesive material between the stones. Even though it has experienced 130 years of wind and rain, it is still solid and firm. Under the conditions at that time, it is difficult to imagine how these huge stones were transported to the construction location and how they were built together. No wonder later generations attributed the bridge's construction to the help of immortals.

The Zhuangyuan Bridge is a provincial key cultural relic protection unit and a famous scenic spot on the Hengyang Gui Ancient Road. It is located in the center of Guiyang Town, across the Baihe River and into the Xiangjiang River. The Zhuangyuan Bridge was built during the Wanli Period of the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt during the Tongzhi Period of the Qing Dynasty (1862-1874). The bridge was protected by floods. In the second year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1876), a gentleman named Yang was the first to raise money for the construction. He responded to the call and everyone donated money. By the eighth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, the bridge was completed, and a bridge association was set up to purchase land for long-term management. The Qiaohui once rented 24 bridge pavilions to small vendors and set up shops on both sides. The rent collected was used to build the local Yangsi Primary School. In the 33rd year of the Republic of China (1944), the Japanese invaders bombed the bridge twice with planes, and the bombs were both inaccurate. The bridge was intact, but all 24 bridge pavilions were burned down, and the stone lions at the head of the bridge were bombed until only the stone seats were left. In 1952, the People's Government allocated funds for reconstruction. The bridge deck was initially opened to cars, but the rear bridge pavilion was demolished due to its low height, and 19 new bridge pavilions were built for cars to pass through. The bridge has been protected as a cultural relic and no motor vehicles are allowed to pass

2014 At the end of November 2015, the Qidong County Government carried out repair work on the Zhuangyuan Bridge. This repair focused on strengthening the bridge body, replacing the bridge deck with bluestone slabs, and restoring the bridge pavilion to the Ming Dynasty-style Fengyu Bridge Pavilion. It is expected to be completed in February 2015 Repairs completed.