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 Lying
west of the Kunming Lake, the Western Bank was built to imitate
the Su Bank in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, and visitors strolling
along the bank often feel as though they are beside the West
Lake in Southern China. The bank has been created to adorn the
lake it surrounds, making it even more lovely and enchanting. Its
most distinctive features are its six bridges, which, ranging from
north to south, are: Jiehu Bridge (Lake-Bound Bridge), Binfeng Bridge,
Jade-Belt Bridge, Jing Bridge (Mirror Bridge), Lian Bridge (White-Silk
Bridge) and Liu Bridge (Willow Bridge). Its picturesque setting,
at once tranquil and elegant, made it a popular retreat for such
historical figures as Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) and Empress
Dowager Cixi .
As the entry point to Kunming Lake, Jiehu Bridge forms the boundary
between the Front and Back Lakes. It is a cross-shaped stone bridge
with three arches. With its square kiosk, Binfeng Bridge has been
built in the style of bridges in the countries of Southern China.
Jade-Belt Bridge, the most renowned and beautiful of the bridges,
is made of white and black marble. Its fluid contour lines are woven
graciously together, hence its name - seen from afar, it resembles
a jade belt. Its high arches enabled the Emperor Qianlong to pass
under it in a dragon boat. Jing Bridge (Mirror Bridge) gets its name
from the artistic vision of poet Li Bai (701-762) - 'two clear rivers
like mirrors, two crossing bridges like double rainbows'. Lian Bridge
takes its name from the line "limpid and serene, the river seems
to be white silk" and the Willow Bridge from the line "beneath
the sunshine, willow's feather flying beside the bridge". |
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