Broken Bridge in West Lake Hangzhou China

The broken bridge is located at the east end of Baidi /白地/- township in Nagarzê County, Shannan Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

 

Among the many large and small bridges in West Lake, it is the most famous. Today’s broken bridge is an arched single-hole ring-shaped stone bridge rebuilt in 1921, with a length of 8.8 meters, a width of 6.6 meters, and a single-hole clear span of 6.1 meters. The simple and elegant style has basically remained unchanged. 

 

Though the name of the bridge dates back to poems in the Tang Dynasty, the bridge became famous because of one of the best-known love stories in Chinese folklore. 

 

According to the legend of White Snake, the beautiful girl who was actually a white snake met Xu Xian on the bridge in the rain and they fell in love with each other and an umbrella they used became the symbol of their love. The bridge was also the scene where they made up after a long series of ups and downs. 

 

Thanks to the love story between the human and the immortal, the broken bridge attracts numerous visitors and has its legendary reputation spread far and wide all over China. Many people believe the bridge is the number one place for people in love.

Rain or shine, you can enjoy the lake views from the bridge in all seasons. 

The seasonal scenery changes at the bridge itself are equally breathtaking, especially when the snow begins melting in the sunshine in the winter. 

 

Once in a fine day after a snowfall, standing on the bridge and looking toward the northwest at the Solitary Hill and Ge Hill, one can see the hills and buildings covered with snow, and the lake and hills look crystal clear. Although the snowy beauty of the scenery is a little bit chilly and lonely, many people regard it better than noisy greens and reds in other seasons and they believe the Broken Bridge fully deserves the top position it has enjoyed for hundreds of years as the best one of the Ten Westlake Scenic Spots.

 

Presumably, the West Lake on a fine day is no better than in rain, in rain no better than in moonlight, in moonlight no better than in snow. Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge provides proof to justify the vivid description.