Abstract: There are many differences between Chinese and western traditional arch bridge buildings in many aspects. These surface differences can be roughly divided into five categories: material and structure， decoration and style， use and purpose， concept and aesthetics， maintenance and management. Behind the surface differences are the differences in cultural concepts in the development of Chinese and western traditional history， which are embodied in six aspects: the unity of man and nature and the conquest of nature， the harmony of the mean and the rebellion of personality， the thinking of curve and straight line， the spirit of everything and humanism， the farming civilization and the marine civilization， and the concept of birth and entry into the world.

Key words: arch bridge, surface difference, cultural concepts, comparison between Chinese and western cultures

摘要： 中西方传统拱桥建筑在诸多方面都存在差异，其中表层差异可以大体分为以下五类：材料与结构、装饰与风格、用途与目的、理念与审美、维护与管理。表层差异的背后是中西方历史发展中文化观念的不同，主要体现在天人合一与征服自然、中庸和谐与个性鲜明、曲线思维与直线思维、万物有灵与人本主义、农耕文明与海洋文明、出世观念与入世观念六个方面。

关键词: 拱桥, 表层差异, 文化观念, 中西方文化对比