Earlier this month, an interactive map of Fujian-Zhejiang wooden arch bridges designed by Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) Society of Fellows in the Liberal Arts Fellow Dr. Liu Yan went live.

The Min-Zhe Woven Arch Bridges Database is the result of ten years of fieldwork. Starting from 2009, he has been accumulating first-hand information about more than one hundred existing Fujian-Zhejiang wooden arch bridges through field research, field mapping, and architectural practice.

The interactive map combines a geographic information system (GIS) with a database. It provides comprehensive information about the bridge, including historical documents and nearby cultural relics. It aims to provide valuable information for studying these bridges, within the broader goal of cultural heritage protection and a world heritage declaration.

Dr. Liu Yan will continue to update the map and its entries over time, with further releases that will incorporate photos, survey data, and mapping information. The current format is the preliminary outcome of his research project.

The Min-Zhe Woven Arch Bridge is unique as it is only found in the mountainous areas bordering Zhejiang and Fujian provinces in southeastern China. These woven bridges use interlocking beams of wood that connect at right angles, employing mortise & tenon joints. It results in long bridges of immense strength in a rugged natural environment and reflects the wisdom of ancient Chinese artisans.

In 2009, the traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges were included in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. In 2012, the representative wooden arch bridge of seven counties in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces were included in the Preparatory List of the World Cultural Heritage in China.