The Bridges of Wind and Rain...

The Bridges of Wind and Rain...

China has as many as 56 different ethnic groups residing in it. Belonging to one of these are the Dong people. The dong are one of many groups left over from ancient China, when it was divided into many different territories. They migrated from east china and today ocan be found in small pockets and villages. They mostly live in eastern Guizhou, western Hunan, and northern Guangxi.

The dong are known for their carpentry skills, their native-bred sweet rice and their unique architecture, especially when it comes to their type of bridge building.

The 'wind and rain bridge', as it is known to the dong, is so called because it has pavilions built on top of it. Often, the structures are quite beautiful, and that is why they are also known as "flower bridges" by some.

These bridges are used for more than just crossing. On rainy days, they make for a great place to relax and meet with other people and travellers until the train abates.

The bridges are mostly made of wood. Both sides will have railings and benches so that pedestrians can rest under the roof. Many are decorated and carved with dragon and pheonix images.

One of the most interesting thing about these bridges, is that they use absolutely no nails to construct them. Rather, the dong carpenters use grooves in a very precise manner to get the wood to cling in an unbreakable bond, acheving stability.

Most famous of these bridges is the Chengyang Bridge. Built in 1916, it is 64 meters(210 ft) long, 3.4 meters (11 ft) wide and 10.6 meters (34 ft) high.

Submitted by: Rajesh Sourash.