Italian professors watch a covered bridge model at the Wenzhou Covered Bridge Culture Society. [Photo/Wenzhou Covered Bridge Culture Association]

Wenzhou in East China's Zhejiang province welcomed two distinguished guests from Italy on May 24, Professors Emanuele Reccia and Valentina Pintus from the University of Cagliari, to explore the rich cultural heritage of the region's historic covered bridges.

In 2025, Fujian University of Technology and the University of Cagliari launched an international workshop on bridge heritage structures and conservation, laying the groundwork for this visit.

During the trip, Zhong Xiaobo, president of the Wenzhou Covered Bridge Culture Society, introduced the Italian professors to the history, construction, and unique craftsmanship of the covered bridges in Wenzhou's Taishun county.

A live demonstration of bridge model assembly highlighted the ingenious mortise-and-tenon techniques that allow these wooden arches to stand without nails or rivets, showcasing the exceptional skills of ancient Chinese artisans.

The delegation also visited the Memo Cafe Art Studio in Zhangli village, a covered bridge art study base, where discussions on the preservation and international dissemination of the wooden arch bridge heritage of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces took place.

This cross-cultural academic exchange, using covered bridges as a cultural link, enhanced mutual understanding and broadened the global reach of Taishun's intangible cultural heritage, breathing new life into traditional construction techniques.