Ancient Chinese ships and ancient bridges of Wu-Yue

Author: Zhu Huiyong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-02-02
Features: Chinese ancient ships are divided into six major categories based on their usage: transport (cargo), passenger, freight, war, agricultural, and fishing. Structurally, they are generally classified into types such as dinghies, ferries, (zhoutiao), lighters, rafts, stern-post boats, and small river passenger and cargo boats. A ferry is a twin-hulled boat where two ships are joined together. A dinghy is a small boat with windows. A (zhoutiao) is a narrow, knife-shaped wooden boat. A lighter is a lightweight and agile wooden boat. A ta is a large boat painted with bird designs. A stern-post boat is a boat where the bow and stern are connected. A small river passenger and cargo boat with pointed ends is called a zhaemang. The materials used in the construction of Chinese ancient ships are diverse, mainly including wooden boats, bamboo boats, hide rafts, birch bark rafts, and even stone-made boats. For example, the stone ferry in Beijing's Kunming Lake was built during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1736-1795). In the Guangxu era (1875-1908), it was expanded with additional floors and platforms, and equipped with fashionable colored glass windows, becoming a tourist attraction for the imperial court and nobility.