ABSTRACT
Many of the cities of China have over the gates of the walls up to the height of the walk of the wall, galleries made of stone or of very strong brick, high and very well wrought, and all very fair, something which greatly embellishes and ennobles the cities. Almost all the cities are built along the banks of rivers. On the rivers which are not very high and impetuous, the cities have for service over the river, very noble and very well wrought bridges of stone; and the butments are not made in arches until after they have been very securely founded and built to a good height. What is to be wondered at in China, is that there are many bridges in uninhabited places throughout China, and these are not less well built nor less costly than those which are nigh the cities, but rather they are all costly and very well wrought.
