Built in 815 during the Tang Dynasty
(618-907), the Ancient Track Road was constructed along the Xiao, Shao, and Yu
canals and through all of Shaoxing from east to west, stretching for more than
40 kilometers. The Ancient Track Road parallels with the current Hang-Yong
Railway and highroad.
After its completion in the Tang Dynasty,
the Ancient Track Road experienced continuous destruction and restorations. The
center of the current track road is located between Keqiao and Nanqianqing, with
a length of seven kilometers and a width of 1.5 to 2 meters. Since one side of
the track road is periodically submerged under water, this side has one bridge
piers built every two meters to control water flow. The other side of the track
road that leans on land was built with stone bars. These stones were laid
underneath the water and covered with rectangular black stones. Over 100 various
bridges were built over the Ancient Track Road, including a flat bridge, arch
bridge and a girder bridge. The Taiping
Bridge, constructed in 1620 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and renovated in
the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), is firmly built, gracefully sculpted and
exquisitely carved.