The Dragon Bridge

The stone bridge of Nin-cheang-foo, in China, is one of the most unusual and interesting bridges in the world. It was built a long time ago, in the 17th century. The bridge has a very special shape — it looks like a yellow dragon. The road goes along the dragon’s back, and its wings are like the sides of the bridge, called parapets. People can walk safely between the wings.

In ancient China, the dragon was a very important symbol. It was the emblem of the emperor and the imperial family. Because of this, ordinary people were not allowed to walk across the bridge. Only the emperor himself could cross it. The bridge was very beautiful and powerful, and it showed the strength and greatness of the emperor. Today, many tourists come to see the bridge and take photos, but long ago it was a place only for the ruler. But long ago, it was a place only for the ruler.