1. Some are engraved with two dragons entwining each other, with the dragon's head in a V shape and spitting water from its mouth.
2. Some are carved with two dragons entwining their tails, with flowers facing each other at both ends.
3. Some are engraved with two dragons with their heads touching each other in a figure eight shape, with water splashing from their mouths.
4. Some are carved with two intertwined dragons spitting out beautiful water splashes. Some are engraved with two flying dragons, with their front paws touching each other, each looking back into the distance. Some are engraved with double dragons playing with beads. All the dragons seemed to be swimming, as if they were alive.
Origin of the name
Zhaozhou Bridge has its original name, common name and the history of name change.
After the Zhaozhou Bridge was completed, its original name was Zhaojun River Stone Bridge. The "Inscription of the Great Stone Bridge in Zhaozhou" written by Zhang Jiazhen in the 13th year of Kaiyuan (725), written by Zhang Jiazhen in the Tang Dynasty, said: "The Stone Bridge over the Zhaojun River is the trace of Li Chun, the craftsman of the Sui Dynasty." It was named after the place name and water name at that time. See this.
Zhaozhou Dashiqiao is the common name of the local people. Because there is Yongtong Bridge built on the Yehe River (Qingshui River) outside the west gate of Zhaozhou City. It is later than the Zhaojun River Stone Bridge. Its architectural structure and artistic style are similar to it, but it is smaller in shape. It is only 2.5 kilometers away from the Zhaojun River Stone Bridge. The two bridges in the north and south are distinguished by their size, so they are called Zhaozhou Big Stone Bridge (Yongtong Bridge is called Zhaozhou Little Stone Bridge).
Zhaozhou Bridge is named after the place name. Since the second year of Tianbao in the Northern Qi Dynasty (551), Yinzhou was changed to Zhaozhou, and the name of Zhaozhou originated from this. Forty years later, the Zhaojun River Stone Bridge was built. In the second year of the Republic of China (1913), Zhaozhou was renamed Zhaoxian. It lasted more than 1,100 years and went through the Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. During this period, Zhaojun, Luanzhou, and Yinzhou, Qingyuanfu (military), Wozhou, Yonganzhou, etc.
It has only existed for 290 years in history; while the name of Zhaozhou has experienced nearly a thousand years and has the longest history. Therefore, the bridge is named after the place, and it is commonly called Zhaozhou Bridge or Zhaozhou Stone Bridge.
Anji Bridge will be renamed later. 590 years after the Zhaojun River Stone Bridge was built, it was named by Zhao Xu, Emperor Zhezong of the Northern Song Dynasty, and used this as its name. According to research, Zhou Hui's "Beiyuan Lu" of the Northern Song Dynasty records: "Before arriving in the city (Zhaozhou), there was a stone bridge crossing the river five miles away. The stone bridge was erected from the sky and was extremely solid. It was thirteen feet long from north to south and one fourth wide. It was actually built by Li Chun of the Sui Dynasty.
It was named Anji during the Yuan Dynasty, and there are traces of Zhang Guo's old donkey." It takes the meaning of "strengthening the metal and stone, strengthening the world, connecting the economy and benefiting, crossing safely, and bringing happiness to all people".