The Great Iron Bull of the Yellow River, [object Object]
852 County Road North, Yongji City, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province
4.8
Introduction
Located on the Yellow River beach outside the west gate of the ancient Pu state city in Yongji, about 4 miles from the Pujiu Temple, the Yellow River Big Iron Bull was cast to maintain and solidify the Pujiu Ferry, a transportation hub between Chang'an and Hedong in the Tang Dynasty. People traveling across the Yellow River needed to use the pontoon bridge, which was often destroyed by floods, making transportation difficult. Therefore, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (around 724 AD) ordered the casting of eight iron bulls to guard the bridge, with four of them placed on the Yellow River beach outside the west gate of the ancient Pu state city. Each bull is over one zhang (3.3 meters) long and weighs about one ton, crouched in a majestic and powerful posture, with a broad chest, raised head, fierce eyes, and attentive ears. There are 36 iron pillars connecting their bellies and extending over a zhang deep into the ground. Each bull has an iron man beside it and is connected to the pillar by two iron mountains. At the end of each bull's tail is a large axle with eight iron chains attached, forming one of the three largest bridges on the Yellow River in the Tang Dynasty, and the largest early pontoon bridge. The four unearthed iron bulls are exquisitely crafted, and they have extremely important historical, scientific, and artistic value for studying the metallurgy, water conservancy, and bridge history of China. Address 852 County Road North, Yongji City, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province
Opening hours All day (Monday-Sunday, January 1st-December 31st)
