Shantang Street in Suzhou (CFP Photo)
Jiangsu Province released its 2023 list of 157 place names recognized as cultural heritage on November 16, including 64 ancient bridges.
An ancient place name usually embodies cultural traditions from long ago, treasured by different generations. The list includes 93 names for roads, streets, lanes and building blocks, such as Wuyi Lane in Nanjing, Shantang Street in Suzhou and 24 Bridge in Yangzhou.
Wuyi Lane in Nanjing
Also on the list is Xuntang Bridge in Wuxi City, dating back to the Spring and Autumn (770-476 BC) and Warring States (475-221 BC) periods. Designated as a cultural protection venue in 2003, the bridge is also one of top tourist attractions in the city.
Maling Ancient Road, located in Donghai County of Lianyungang City, also made it onto the list. The 50 km-long road spans over complicated terrain and features a monument erected in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), with an inscription now indiscernible. However, many cultural relics have been unearthed near this stele, some of which are collected in the county’s museum.
Qiqiaoweng Bridge in Nanjing
Nanjing is home to nearly 100 ancient bridges, with Putang Bridge and Qiqiaoweng Bridge recognized as national-level cultural protection sites.
As part of the ancient culture protection, Jiangu Province has been intensifying efforts in recent years to preserve historical place names, according to the province’s Department of Civil Affairs.
In 2022, Jiangsu became the first province in China to launch the assessment and recognition of historical place names, releasing lists for ancient cities, towns and villages respectively.
24 Bridge in Yangzhou
Along with this effort, more than 800 old place names, embodying rich historical legacies, have been reused or highlighted during urban renewal and rural construction. In addition to province-level protection, localities in Jiangsu have also established their own lists with more than 13,000 entries.
Zhao Tingpu, deputy director of the department, said Jiangsu will also update the national database on historical place names, and create an online museum to enable public access to standard information easily.
