According to the National Cultural Heritage Administration, China has so far found 1,355 covered bridges built in ancient times, and 138 of them, located in 13 provinces and regions, have been listed as national-level protected relics.
In 2009, UNESCO inscribed the traditional design and practices of building Chinese wooden arch bridges on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Mostly found in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, which jointly applied for inclusion on the UNESCO list, covered bridges not only provide shelter from the sun and rain, but also serve as a nostalgic reminder of a heartwarming and bustling past.
