## Overview of Sanying Longyao Bridge
The **Sanying Longyao Bridge** (三鶯龍窯橋, *Sānyīng Lóngyáo Qiáo*), also frequently called the **Yingge Longyao Bridge**, is one of the most imaginative civic and architectural landmarks in northern Taiwan. Spanning the confluence where Yingge Creek empties into the majestic Dahan River, the pedestrian and bicycle bridge physically links the culturally renowned ceramics district of **Yingge** with the historic river town of **Sanxia** in southwestern New Taipei City.

Inaugurated on January 12, 2013, by the New Taipei City Government, the 85-meter-long bridge was engineered to serve a dual purpose: providing an essential, grade-separated cycling artery connecting the metropolitan riverside bikeways of New Taipei and Taoyuan, while paying architectural homage to Yingge’s two-century-old status as the historic pottery and ceramics capital of Taiwan. Today, the bridge stands as a celebrated cultural gateway, attracting thousands of cyclists, photography enthusiasts, families, and domestic travelers each week.

## Architecture: The Reimagined Dragon Kiln
The distinctive aesthetic of Sanying Longyao Bridge is drawn directly from the industrial and artisanal history of ceramic manufacturing:

– **The Concept of the “Longyao” (Dragon Kiln):** During the late Qing dynasty and Japanese colonial period, Yingge’s thriving pottery industries relied on traditional multi-chambered, wood-fired slope kilns known as *Longyao* (“Dragon Kilns”). Built ascending natural hillside gradients, these elongated, semi-cylindrical brick tunnels resembled sleeping dragons resting on the earth. When fired, glowing wood flames roared up the incline, baking bricks, tiles, teapots, and ceramic water jars at temperatures exceeding 1,200°C.
– **Tubular Steel and Wooden Rib Framework:** The superstructure of the Sanying Longyao Bridge ingeniously replicates this historic kiln shape. Engineered as an enclosed tubular steel truss span measuring 85 meters in length, 3.5 meters in width, and 4.2 meters in height, the bridge features rhythmic white steel arches that form the “ribs” of the dragon. The interior walkway is lined with warm natural cedar wood decking and curved timber louvers, creating the tactile sensation of walking through the belly of a traditional wood-fired kiln.
– **Historical Interpretation Inside the Bridge:** As visitors stroll or pedal through the interior bridge tunnel, the wooden wall panels incorporate integrated historical plaques, archival photographs, and etched timelines. These displays illustrate the evolution of Yingge’s ceramic craftsmanship—from the early discovery of clay along Jianshanpu in 1804 through the heyday of commercial pottery export in the mid-twentieth century.

## Nighttime LED Illumination: The Glowing Dragon
While the bridge is striking against daytime river skies, it transforms into an ethereal visual spectacle after dusk:

– **Computer-Controlled Dynamic Lighting:** The bridge is outfitted with thousands of energy-efficient, computer-programmed LED light fixtures embedded along its exterior steel arches and interior timber ribs.
– **Thematic Light Shows:** Every evening starting at 6:00 PM, the bridge comes alive with synchronized kinetic light displays. Waves of brilliant crimson, imperial gold, cyan blue, and emerald green ripple across the exterior arches, creating the dramatic visual illusion of a glowing celestial dragon leaping across the surface of the river. The reflections of the moving colored lights in the rippling waters of the Dahan River make the site one of the most photographed night-scenic destinations in New Taipei City.

## The Regional Cycling Network
Sanying Longyao Bridge functions as a crucial infrastructure link within northern Taiwan’s world-class cycling network:

– **Dahan River Bikeway:** The bridge serves as a vital cross-river connection along the 32-kilometer Dahan River Left and Right Bank Bicycle Trails. Cyclists can pedal seamlessly on dedicated, traffic-free paths from Tamsui, Bali, and central Taipei all the way through Sanxia, Yingge, and westward into Daxi and Longtan in Taoyuan City.
– **YouBike Integration:** Modern public bicycle sharing kiosks (YouBike 2.0) are conveniently positioned at the entry plaza of Sanying Art Village and near Yingge Train Station, allowing casual visitors to rent lightweight multi-speed bicycles for a nominal hourly fee.

## Surrounding Cultural Attractions
A walk across the bridge places travelers within immediate reach of Yingge’s foremost cultural and artistic destinations:

– **Sanying Heart Space Arts District (Sanying Art Village):** Located directly adjacent to the bridgehead on the Yingge riverbank, this sprawling 32-hectare public park combines wetlands, sweeping grassy lawns, and monumental outdoor ceramic sculptures. Highlights include the towering 15-meter-tall *P坯 (P-Pei)* spiraling terracotta sculpture, giant ceramic teapots, and playful oversized spoons scattered across the park.
– **Yingge Ceramics Museum:** Situated a scenic ten-minute walk along the marked pedestrian trail, this world-class cultural institution is Taiwan’s first modern museum dedicated exclusively to ceramics. Designed by renowned architect Chien Hsueh-yi, the museum features soaring glass-and-exposed-concrete galleries showcasing contemporary studio ceramics, traditional folk pottery, and international ceramic biennials.
– **Yingge Ceramics Old Street (*Jianshanpu Road*):** Walkable from the museum, this charming cobblestone pedestrian avenue is lined with hundreds of pottery showrooms, artisanal teaware galleries, and pottery workshops where visitors can sit at potter’s wheels to throw their own clay cups and bowls.
– **Sanxia Old Street:** Across the river, cyclists can follow the paved riverbank trail south for approximately fifteen minutes to explore the exquisite Baroque red-brick archways, woodcarving galleries, and celebrated Qingshui Zushi Temple of Sanxia.

## Visitor Logistics and Getting There
– **Location:** Huanhe Road, Yingge District, New Taipei City, Taiwan (confluence of Yingge Creek and Dahan River).
– **By Train (Taiwan Railways / TRA):** Take any northbound or southbound local train to **Yingge Railway Station**. From the Culture Road Exit, walk south through the ceramics district for approximately 12 to 15 minutes to arrive at Sanying Art Village and the bridge plaza.
– **By Car / Parking:** Ample designated public vehicle parking is available at the Sanying Art Village parking lot located directly off Sanying Bridge and Guanshen Street.