Chinese Bridges: Living Architecture from China's Past

In Chinese Bridges, Ronald G. Knapp, one of the foremost experts on Chinese culture and historical geography, gives these under-regarded marvels of Chinese architecture their due. Guiding readers on an erudite and enlightening tour of both famous Chinese bridges and those newly discovered by western eyes, Knapp shows that—far from merely utilitarian—the bridges of China are dramatic, majestic, and even daring. Through descriptions, essays, and more than four hundred color photographs as well as woodblock prints, historic images, paintings and line drawings, Knapp documents the history of these Chinese bridges, illuminating the distinctive architectural elements they share and their role as "living architecture." Marking the first time that many of these bridges have been documented in an English-language book, Chinese Bridges is a breathtaking work of architectural history and a comprehensive introduction to these often overlooked feats of architectural prowess.