天生桥　Tianshengqiao(Natural Stone Bridge)

　　经过几亿年的锲而不舍，占贵州总面积62%的碳酸盐岩，在古夜郎地雕造了众多令人叹为观止的美景，喀斯特天生桥便是它的杰作之一。

　　It took nature billions of years to have today's landforms of Guizhou karst landscape. Guizhou's carbonate formation takes 62% of its total territory, creating innumerous natural wonders. 　　　　Tianshengqiao (Natural Stone Bridge) is one of the examples.

Tianshengqiao(Natural Stone Bridge)

——A Natural Wonder of Karst Landform

　　贵州位于世界最大的喀斯特区--华南喀斯特区的中心部位，处于云南高原向湘西丘陵过渡的斜坡地带，居长江水系和珠江水系上游，地质构造复杂。占贵州总面积62%左右的碳酸盐岩经过大自然几亿年神奇力量锲而不舍的作用，在古夜郎地雕造了众多令人叹为观止的美景，喀斯特天生桥便是它的杰作之一。
　　贵州属喀斯特地貌，大大小小的溶洞和天生桥众多，几乎遍布全省各地，最有名的有：黎平高屯天生桥、大方九洞天天生桥、织金关寨天生桥、水城干河天生桥、大七孔天生桥、开阳香火岩天生桥等。最近发现的大方羊场清虚洞庭湖天生桥，经地质专家实地测量，该天生桥桥高178.25米，跨高105 .58米，拱桥跨度最大处127.35米，最小处77.69米，桥身长400米，宽200米。其气势和规模比上了世界吉尼斯纪录大全的黎平高屯天生桥更为宏大。
　　天生桥通常是原来的水平溶洞或地下暗河（伏流）的通道，当河水剥蚀、溶蚀和冲刷造成岩石崩塌扩展，再经地壳千万年的变化抬升露出地表，从而形成残留的洞顶，宛若架起的拱桥。大方清虚洞天生桥形成现在的规模至少已有百万年的历史。
千姿百态的天生桥，装点着贵州的大地，也给贵州的旅游增添一道使人流连的风景线。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　文/图　秦刚　

　　Guizhou is located in the center of South China Karst Region, the largest karst region in the world. Guizhou also lies on the upper reaches of the Yangtze and the Pearl River on the slope of the Yunnan and Guizhou Plateau tilting from west to east. The topography is complicated with the eroded carbonate rocks, forming thousands of natural wonders.

　　There are karst caves in all shapes and sizes, and natural stone bridges scattered in different parts of the province, such as Gaotun Tianshengqiao in Liping County, Jiudongtian Tianshengqiao in Dafang County, Guanzhai Tianshengqiao in Zijing county, Ganhe Tianshengqiao in Shuicheng District, Daqikong Tianshengqiao in Libo County and Xianghuoyan Tianshengqiao in Kaiyang. But the newly found Dongtinghe Tianshengqiao in Dafang County has been proved the largest one in the world. The natural stone bridge is 178-m high, 127.35-m wide at its widest and 77.69-m wide at its narrowest. It will take the place of Gaotun Tianshengqiao in Guinness World Record.