Reinventing China's olden arches

Determined and diligent, Zeng ventured into the mountains to study historical bridges, recording data on their heights, spans, and the sizes of their different parts.

Through meticulous research and preparation, which included making models and conducting pressure tests, Zeng became a self-taught bridge builder. He furthered his knowledge and skills by working under Dong Zhiji, a master carpenter who oversaw the construction of Tongle Bridge between 2004 and 2006, the first covered bridge built since the founding of People's Republic of China.

From 2017 to 2019, Zeng traveled to Nantou county in Taiwan on a number of occasions, staying for a total of five months to help build a 43.5-meter covered bridge, the first of its kind to be built in Taiwan.