Recently, the provincial government approved and agreed to the “National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit Office Prefecture Covered Bridge Protection Plan”, pointing out that it is necessary to adhere to the policy of protecting cultural relics first, rescue first, rational use and strengthening management, strengthen the protection and management of cultural relics in the prefecture covered bridge, effectively maintain the surrounding environment and style, and ensure the safety and integrity of historical and cultural heritage.
As the seventh batch of national key cultural relics protection units, the Zhizhou Covered Bridge consists of 25 covered bridges, distributed in multiple townships (towns) and villages in five counties (cities) including Qingyuan, Longquan, Jingning, Songyang and Qingtian. Among the existing covered bridges, there are 3 covered bridges built in the Ming Dynasty, 14 built in the Qing Dynasty, and 8 built in the Republic of China. There are various types of structures in the state covered bridge, including wooden arcade bridge, stone arcade bridge, wooden jib beam covered bridge and wooden flat beam covered bridge.
According to the requirements of the Notice of the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau on Carrying out the Preparation of the Protection Planning of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units, the cultural relics protection department of Lishui City initiated the preparation of the protection plan of the Covered Bridge in Zhizhou, and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage agreed to establish the project of the protection plan of the Covered Bridge in Zhezhou and issued funds for the preparation of the plan. Through the scientific and reasonable overall planning of the protection and utilization of the covered bridge, the “Plan” combines the protection of the covered bridge with the construction of the ecological environment and economic development, so that its authenticity and integrity can be effectively protected and inherited, and the coordination and unity of social, ecological and economic benefits are promoted, so as to seek a harmonious and win-win situation between the protection of cultural relics and social development.
According to the analysis of various conditions such as the location of the bridge, the surrounding environment, regional resources, the construction status and development prospects, the “Plan” divides the protection and development of the covered bridge into four types: urban landscape node type, village covered bridge cultural landscape node type, rest as the main display and utilization type, and protection as the main display and utilization as the auxiliary type, and implements four types of protection measures, including maintenance, emergency reinforcement, repair and pest control.
The “Plan” puts forward that it is necessary to focus on the protection of cultural relics, adhere to scientific, moderate, sustainable and rational use, build a display system based on the cultural connotation and value of the Zhizhou Covered Bridge, and improve the appreciability of cultural relics through reasonable display methods. On the basis of the protection and environmental improvement of the covered bridge, the bridge node area is formed in combination with the surrounding landscape, which is integrated into the county tourism display system, showing the historical and cultural value of the covered bridge and the landscape charm of the surrounding environment, and reflecting the construction culture of the rural landscape and mountain habitat where man and nature coexist harmoniously. In the medium and long term, a special tourism exhibition of covered bridges can be gradually constructed, and the covered bridge culture can be displayed in sub-areas with the help of existing or relevant planned tourism routes.
The “Plan” also proposes that according to the display and utilization needs of the covered bridges in the prefecture, combined with the tourism development of the region, corresponding service facilities should be matched. It mainly includes tourist service management centers, service points, rest facilities, sanitation facilities, public toilets, parking lots, interpretation systems, etc. According to the framework of “city and county-level museums – village and town exhibition points”, the plan will form an exhibition venue model of “two museums and four exhibition points”. Establish a set of signage system that is in harmony with the style of the covered bridge and the surrounding environment, including but not limited to guide maps, explanatory boards, road signs, warning signs, etc.
The Plan clearly states that the management of the covered bridge in the prefecture should adhere to the principle of public welfare, so as to maximize the public interest in the protection of the covered bridge; The principle of coordination and balance to balance the needs of relevant interests; The principle of unity of rights and responsibilities unifies the rights, obligations and responsibilities of stakeholders.