Chengyang, or Chengyang Eight Villages, is a group of Dong villages along the Linxi River in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, in northern Guangxi, near the borders with Hunan and Guizhou. The best-known building is the Chengyang Yongji Bridge, a wooden wind-and-rain bridge. Dong villages are known for these covered bridges and for drum towers, and Sanjiang is the main Dong area in the region.
| Yongji Bridge | begun 1912, completed 1924; 77.76 m long, 11.52 m above the river; five stone piers and four spans; timber, joined by mortise and tenon |
|---|---|
| Bridge layout | five pavilions on a covered walkway 3.75 m wide; the middle one has four tiers and a hexagonal roof |
| Status | national protected site since 1982 |
| Damage and repair | flood damage in 1936 and 1984; repaired by 1941 and 1995; closed three months for repair from January 2016 |
| Sanjiang County | 2,454 km²; about 322,000 residents (2020); Dong, Miao and Yao people |
Yongji Bridge
Residents of the eight Cheng Yang villages organized labor and money in 1912 to build a bridge over the Linxi River, and it was completed in 1924. It is a timber bridge joined with mortise-and-tenon joints and stands about 11.5 meters above the water. Its stone piers are shaped like boat prows, with a 68-degree cutwater that points upstream. The main beams are two layers of fir logs, seven per layer. On top, a roofed corridor 3.75 meters wide runs the length of the bridge, with five pavilions. Floods took away the three southern pavilions in 1936, which the villagers recovered and later rebuilt by 1941, and two piers were washed out in 1984 and fixed by 1995. In 2016 the bridge closed for about three months for repairs, so check that it is open before you plan around it.
Drum towers and the Dong area
Sanjiang is the main Dong area, with many Dong-style buildings such as wind-and-rain bridges and drum towers. Chinese Wikipedia lists three national protected sites in the county: the Chengyang Yongji Bridge in Linxi, the Batuan Bridge in Dudong and the Mapang Drum Tower in Bajiang. The county’s tea oil and tea are both national geographic indication products.
Getting there and how long to stay
Sanjiang is about 167 kilometers from Guilin and 203 kilometers from Liuzhou. The county has rail and expressway links; Sanjiang South station is on the Guiyang to Guangzhou high-speed line. Chengyang pairs with Longji on a trip from Guilin, usually as one night in a village.
Planning Chengyang with Absolute Asia Tours
Absolute Asia Tours has planned private trips in Asia since 1989. For Chengyang that means a driver from Guilin, a homestay or small inn in a village, and a guide who can explain Dong architecture. We’re rated 4.8 out of 5 across about 900 traveler reviews. See our China tours or tell us your dates.
Sources (read in Chinese, Chinese Wikipedia): 程阳永济桥, 三江侗族自治县. Last checked November 2026.
Chengyang: FAQ
What is the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge?
A wooden Dong covered bridge over the Linxi River, begun in 1912 and completed in 1924, 77.76 meters long with five pavilions.
Is Chengyang Bridge protected?
Yes. It has been a national protected site since 1982.
How far is Chengyang from Guilin?
Sanjiang County town is about 167 kilometers from Guilin. Allow a few hours by road.
Who are the Dong people?
The main ethnic group of Sanjiang County, known for wind-and-rain bridges and drum towers. Miao and Yao people also live there.
How many days do you need in Chengyang?
One night in a village is usual, often combined with Longji.
Photo: EditQ, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Chengyang Yongji Bridge.
