Plan at a glance
Find the right bridge
This guide refers to the Donghe Pontoon Bridge (东河浮桥), also called the Jianchun Gate Pontoon Bridge (建春门浮桥), at the junction of Zhongshan Road (中山路) and Maqi Lane (马齐巷), next to Jianchun Gate. Its deck is linked by wooden boats and planks and still serves as a traditional crossing. Check same-day access to see whether the whole bridge can be walked; water-traffic management may separate sections. Search for “Donghe Pontoon Bridge” or “Jianchun Gate Pontoon Bridge” in your map app to avoid being sent to Xihe New Bridge (西河新桥).
Tickets and access
The bridge is free and functions as a working crossing, so it can usually be reached at different times of day. The best views are generally from late afternoon into the evening. Water traffic, maintenance or on-site management may change which sections are open, so check which sections are open that day.
How much time to allow
Allow about 30–60 minutes to descend from Jianchun Gate to the river, walk onto the first part of the bridge and take photos. Add Jianchun Gate Tower, riverfront viewpoints and the teahouse across the river for about 1–2 hours. The pontoon bridge works best as a short stop within a walking route linking the ancient city wall, Zao'er Lane or Songchao Evernight City.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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Wooden boats, planks and Jianchun Gate
The bridge is made of linked wooden boats and moves slightly underfoot, with the Gong River visible between the boards. Jianchun Gate Tower stands beside the deck. Looking back at the gate from the riverbank and photographing the wall from the bridge give the clearest sense of how the pontoon bridge and old city wall fit together.
Riverside life and changing light
Fishing boats, dried fish and local stalls create an everyday riverside scene near the bridgehead, while the stalls and products change by date. Light is usually softer around sunset. From the middle of the bridge, the long perspective down the bridge, the tower at the bridgehead and the lights across the river offer different compositions; adjust your stop according to visibility over the river.
Who this works for
Visitors exploring Ganzhou's old town for the first time and wanting to see a traditional bridge still in use only need a short stop. Architectural photographers can place Jianchun Gate and the bridge around sunset. With children, stay near the bridgehead for a short experience, check the surface and crowd level, then decide whether to continue across.
Build your day
Quick route: about 30–60 minutes
Descend from Jianchun Gate to the river, walk about one-third of the way across, photograph the deck, the Gong River and Jianchun Gate, then return by the same route. Reaching this first third is enough for the short version; use the remaining time for Zao'er Lane or another old-town stop.
Full late-afternoon route: about 1–2 hours
First climb the ancient city wall near Jianchun Gate for a higher view of the pontoon bridge. Then descend to the bridgehead, cross the Donghe Pontoon Bridge, take in the deck and the lights on both banks, and return by the same route. If the bridge is closed or water traffic is being managed, photograph the riverfront and Jianchun Gate instead; the route still works.
What to do if the bridge opens
Around 16:00, the bridge may sometimes be opened by separating part of the floating structure to let larger boats pass. This is not a daily activity or a performance time. If water traffic is being managed when you arrive, watch from an open area and wait for the deck to reopen before crossing.
Get there
Navigation and moving around the old town
Use “Donghe Pontoon Bridge” (东河浮桥) or “Jianchun Gate Pontoon Bridge” (建春门浮桥) as the map target, or navigate to Jianchun Gate and walk down to the river. Ganzhou's old town is easiest to explore on foot or by shared electric bike; during holidays, narrow roads and the area around Songchao Evernight City can be congested for both cars and taxis.
Parking
The bridgehead is not a practical driving destination. If you must drive, leave the car at an outer-old-town hotel or public car park, then walk or cycle to Jianchun Gate. The actual walking distance depends on where you park, and bridgehead spaces are subject to availability on the day.
Know before you go
Riverside safety and bridge access
The deck can move slightly with the current and pedestrians, and the planks may be slippery in rain. Stay on open sections, do not climb over railings and do not play in the water beside the boats. Children and slower walkers should stay near the bridgehead and avoid the busiest periods.
Changing access and spending
The possibility of a bridge opening around 16:00 is only a water-traffic note, not a fixed viewing time. Prices at bridgehead stalls and for local products may change, so ask before buying dried fish or other goods. For a rest, consider the Old Pontoon Bridge Teahouse across the river, depending on its opening hours that day.