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.

Since 1965, Ronald G. Knapp has spent significant time carrying out research in the Chinese countryside and is the author or contributing editor of more than a dozen books, including the award-winning Chinese Houses: The Architectural Heritage of a Nation. Knapp is currently SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the State University of New York, New Paltz, where he also lives.

Currently based in Hong Kong, A. Chester Ong has photographed widely throughout Asia. His photography appears in magazines, exhibitions, as well as books, including China Modern, Chinese Houses, and China Living.