Duanqiao, Historical bridge near West Lake, Hangzhou, China
Duanqiao is a grey stone arch bridge with a single wide, rounded arch over the water at the east end of the Bai Causeway on West Lake. A flat deck with a low railing crosses the top, and shrubs grow at the bases of the arch on both sides. Beside the bridge stand the "Clouds, Waters and Light" waterside pavilion and the Broken Bridge in Snow stele pavilion.
The bridge originated during the Song Dynasty and underwent multiple reconstructions across the centuries. These rebuilding efforts allowed it to maintain its central role within the lake's historical landscape.
The bridge's name comes from the winter sight of snow melting on the arch while the ends stay white, making the span seem broken; this scene, 'Remaining Snow on Broken Bridge', is one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake. In the Legend of the White Snake, Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian first meet here, an episode known as the 'Meeting at Broken Bridge'.
The bridge sits at the east end of Baidi (White Causeway), where one end meets Beishan Road on the north shore of West Lake; the causeway continues toward Pinghu Qiuyue and Gushan. Beside the bridge stand the Yunshui Guangzhong waterside pavilion and the stele pavilion for the "Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge" view. Hangzhou city buses serve the area.
The name comes from how the bridge looks after snow: seen from Precious Stone Hill to the south, the arch's snow melts while both ends stay white, so the span seems broken. The scene is called 'Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge', one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake.
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