The natural beauty of mountains and rivers has a special liking for China writers and artists. As Dong Changqi, a great artist in the Ming Dynasty, said, "Poetry is based on mountains and rivers, and mountains and rivers are also based on poetry." The bridge is a building built between mountains and rivers. It stands in nature for a long time and becomes a member of embellishing and beautifying nature. Where there are mountains and water, there will naturally be bridges. The bridge itself is also a combination of practicality and artistry. The straightness of the bridge, the volley of the cable bridge, the charm of the pontoon bridge and the shadow of the arch bridge are originally swaying artistic style. So Mr. Needham of Britain said, "There is no China Bridge that is not beautiful, and many of them are extraordinarily beautiful."

The artistry of bridges in China is mainly manifested in two aspects, namely, modeling style and decoration technology. The modeling style is mainly reflected in the soft curve, harmonious rhythm and magnificent momentum. And some small beams and bridges in Jiangnan water town are more reminiscent of "small bridges and flowing water"

Flowing water

Other people's poems.

Generally speaking, bridge decoration is not very developed in China, mainly reflected in the stone bridge, and its parts are generally in places where people can easily stop and watch. For example, there are dragons, phoenixes, lions, elephants and rhinoceroses, and there are patterns such as rabbits, monkeys, horses, dogs, clouds, lotus flowers and herbs. There are also a few embossed river statues, warrior statues and character story images. For example, the head of the river god on the flower wall of Yongtongqiao Mountain in Zhao County, Hebei Province, the dragon on the railing and the lion on the ganglou.

The stone lions on the Lugou Bridge in Beijing and so on. These stone carvings are exquisitely made and are often closely related to folk customs, myths and legends. For example, dragons control water, rhinos divide water, and beasts subdue demons, thus forming a unique style of Chinese bridge art.

In addition, many bridges in China often have many ancillary buildings built on the bridge or at the bridge head. The building built on the bridge played the role of anti-corrosion and foundation pressure of the wooden bridge, and later became a combination of bridge and building. The building at the bridgehead is the sign of the entrance and exit of the bridge.

It also has the function of setting off, guarding and decorating the bridge.