Guangji Bridge
Chao Zhou, Guangdong
An 800-year-old bridge combining fixed stone arches with a central floating section of 18 linked wooden boats that could be opened for river traffic.
Why visit Guangji Bridge?
First built in 1171, it's one of the few surviving examples in China of a bridge engineered as both a fixed crossing and a functional drawbridge — a genuinely unusual design for its era.
How to experience it
Walk the full span in both directions; the floating central section has a different feel underfoot than the stone ends, worth noticing rather than rushing across.
Tip
It's lit up at night and worth a second visit after dark if you're staying in the old town.