Geumcheon-gyo

Changdeokgung
Seoul, Korea

Geumcheon Bridge was built in 1411 and is the oldest remaining in Seoul. Crossing the Geumcheon ("Golden Stream"¹) near Donhwamun, it is a three-lane processional bridge, 12.5m (41 ft) wide and only 12.9m (42 ft) long; the middle lane was reserved for the king. The haetae (xiezhi), a mythical guardian animal, crouches below a monster mask where the two arches meet. There are four other animal heads projecting above the arches. A similar scheme is repeated (with a tortoise instead of a haetae) on the other side of the bridge.

¹Although some writers call it the "forbidden stream" instead; it is the same character, but a different meaning.