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Built during Emperor Qianlong's reign (1736-1795), this high and thin bridge was named Jade Belt Bridge because its body and railings are made of gray white or white marbles which combine to resemble a jade belt. Under the bridge, the Kunming Lake inlet led to Yu River. When the emperors and empresses went by boat from the Garden of Clear Ripples to Jade Spring Hills, they would pass under this bridge.
Lying west of the Kunming Lake, the Western Bank was built to imitate the Su Bank in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The 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).
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. 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". |
