The mid-term promotion meeting of the -Three-Year Action Plan for Covered Bridge Protection- was held in Pingnan, Fujian

On October 16, a mid-term meeting for the “Three-Year Action Plan for Bridge Protection” was held in Pingnan County, Ningde City, Fujian Province. The meeting aimed to comprehensively advance the goals of the action plan and systematically enhance the research and utilization of bridge protection.

During the meeting, Guan Qiang, Deputy Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, emphasized that although covered bridges represent only a small category within cultural heritage, they embody a significant strategy for the systematic protection of cultural sites.

According to reports, the bridge protection initiative includes not only surveying and assessing risks to covered bridges but also safeguarding the cultural relics, inscriptions, ancestral halls, ancient pathways, pavilions, rock carvings, residential structures, docks, and water management facilities in their vicinity. The plan encompasses the protection of local villages, ancient trees, and natural landscapes, along with necessary environmental improvements, and promotes the use of existing buildings nearby. Additionally, it supports academic research on covered bridges and the preservation of traditional craftsmanship as intangible cultural heritage.

Since the implementation of the “Three-Year Action Plan for Bridge Protection,” overall progress has been encouraging. Preliminary statistics from a national bridge resource survey indicate there are 1,820 existing covered bridges across the country, with 76 newly discovered since the third national cultural relics census. Ongoing updates will continue to refine these figures. Shanxi and Gansu provinces have completed their statewide surveys, while Hunan Province has reported a significant increase in the number of covered bridges.

Furthermore, various locations have completed 93 restoration and fire safety projects related to covered bridges, with 41 additional projects currently underway. Over 150 million yuan has been invested, and efforts are being made to establish exhibition halls dedicated to covered bridges and to create themed tourism trails centered around these cultural relics. The community is actively participating in the protection of these structures.

Guan Qiang urged for a stronger work mechanism to complete the bridge resource surveys and risk assessments as planned. He highlighted the importance of creating a comprehensive database for covered bridges, ensuring effective restoration, and enhancing the overall protection of surrounding cultural relics and environments. He also called for the development of specialized tourism routes to invigorate the cultural presence of these bridges, alongside efforts in talent development and institutional building to successfully achieve the action plan’s goals.

As a hub for covered bridges, Ningde City boasts 138 various cultural relic bridges, including 52 wooden arch bridges, which positions it first in the nation and has earned it the title of “Hometown of Chinese Wooden Arch Bridges.” Since the onset of the action plan, Ningde has enacted the “Regulations for the Protection of Wooden Arch Bridges,” establishing a public responsibility system for cultural heritage safety that spans from the city level to county, township, village, and conservation units. The implementation of a digital protection project for wooden arch bridges and the creation of a video monitoring and early warning platform for cultural protection units are key strategies underway, alongside significant restoration and safety initiatives.

Zheng Zhonghui, Deputy Mayor of Ningde City, affirmed their commitment to practically enhance the management and revitalization of covered bridges, aspiring for these structures to serve as vital connectors for rural revitalization and enhance the lives of local residents.

Pingnan County, the meeting’s host, is rich in covered bridge resources, featuring 57 historic covered bridges, some of which, like Wan’an Bridge, Qiancheng Bridge, and Baixiang Bridge, are deemed nationally significant cultural relics. The traditional building techniques of wooden arch bridges have been recognized as national intangible cultural heritage and listed as urgently needed for protection by UNESCO, highlighting the county’s significant concentration of traditional bridges.

In recent years, Pingnan County has worked diligently within the framework of the “Three-Year Action Plan for Bridge Protection,” aiming to improve protection mechanisms, reinforce safety levels, and foster closer integration of culture and tourism, striving to breathe new life into these historic structures.

Zhou Chunhai, Secretary of the Pingnan County Committee, reiterated the ongoing commitment to implement all tasks related to the “Three-Year Action Plan for Bridge Protection,” with the goal of continuously enhancing the protection and utilization of these bridges, often referred to as “the people’s bridge,” “the nostalgia bridge,” and “the bridge of unity.”

During the meeting, participants also inspected the restoration efforts of Wan’an Bridge, conducted fire drills to evaluate safety measures, and visited various bridge exhibitions and sites within the county, including Qianceng Bridge and other notable structures, to stay updated on the recent progress in bridge protection efforts.