Seventeen-Arch Bridge

Seventeen-Arch Bridge

is a long bridge connecting the eastern shore with South Lake Island. It was built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty and is the largest stone bridge in the garden. The bridge consists of 17 arches, gracefully spanning the East Causeway and South Lake Island, resembling a long rainbow lying across the water. Its design incorporates features of both Beijing’s Lugou Bridge and Suzhou’s Baodai Bridge. The stone carvings on the bridge are exquisitely crafted, with a total of 544 large and small pieces. At both ends of the bridge, there are also carved stone beasts that are very vivid. The north side of the bridge’s plaque is inscribed with “Spirit Beast Crescents,” while the south side reads “Riding the Waves.”

Built along the landscape of hills and waters, Kunming Lake occupies about three-quarters of the entire Summer Palace area. In addition to various structures scattered around the lake, there is also the West Causeway, which features six beautifully designed bridges. In the middle of the lake lies South Lake Island, connected to the shore by the stunning Seventeen-Arch Bridge. Originally serving as an imperial retreat and pleasure garden, the Summer Palace spans 290 hectares (4,350 acres). The entire garden is centered around the Tower of Buddhist Incense on Longevity Hill, with halls, pavilions, towers, corridors, and kiosks arranged according to the terrain and location, all exquisitely and beautifully designed.

The Seventeen-Arch Bridge connects to the Kuoru Pavilion to the east and spans between the East Causeway and South Lake Island. It is not only the only passage to South Lake Island but also a major scenic highlight of the lake area. The bridge is 150 meters long and 8 meters wide, making it the largest bridge in the Summer Palace. From a distance, it looks like a long rainbow flying over the blue waves. All the plaques and couplets on the Seventeen-Arch Bridge were written by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. On the horizontal inscribed board at the southern end of the bridge are the words “Riding the Waves,” describing the bridge as a rainbow soaring over the blue waters of Kunming Lake. The horizontal board at the northern end bears the words “Spirit Beast Crescents,” likening the bridge to a mythical aquatic creature lying in the water like a crescent moon. Another couplet at the northern end reads: “A rainbow rests on the stone beam, the shore draws long winds that never cease; waves curl back oar shadows, moonlight reflects as we gaze again.” The scenery of this bridge is even more delightful when visited on a serene and elegant night. The white marble railings on both sides of the bridge feature 128 pillars, each carved with exquisitely crafted stone lions in various lifelike poses—some embracing mother and cub, some playing and frolicking, some chasing each other, and others gazing intently at the scenery. At each end of the bridge stand two large stone beasts resembling qilins, looking majestic. There are also four fierce-looking carved stone beasts at both ends of the bridge, extremely vivid in appearance.

Exiting the Wenchang Pavilion and heading south, you’ll find the Zhichun Pavilion on a lakeside islet. It is named so because the islet is covered with peach and willow trees that show the earliest signs of spring. Standing in the pavilion, you can take in a sweeping view of the distant, mid-range, and close-up scenes, making it the best spot to view the entire garden. On the shore, there is also the memorial shrine of Yelü Chucai, the prime minister of the Yuan Dynasty. Further south, you’ll come across the Kuoru Pavilion, the largest pavilion in the garden. With its octagonal double-eaved roof, it is supported by 24 round and 16 square pillars across three interior and exterior layers, making it uniquely distinctive. The pavilion resembles a steelyard weight, pressing down on the eastern end of the Seventeen-Arch Bridge and highlighting the key scenic area of South Lake Island on the western side. Next to the Kuoru Pavilion stands a bronze ox, cast in 1775, which is a unique attraction. Beneath the bronze ox is a stone-carved base with wave patterns, representing the symbolism of taming the waters.

Viewed from the perspective of the entire lake, the long West Causeway and the shorter causeways branching off from it divide the lake into three sections. The islands located within these sections—South Lake Island, Zaodian Hall, and Zhijing Pavilion Island—symbolize the three immortal mountains of Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou in the East Sea, representing the immortal realms of Taoist belief. Looking at the garden as a whole, the positioning of South Lake Island and the Tower of Buddhist Incense on Longevity Hill forms a relationship of secondary and primary focal points in the technique of scenic counterpoint. Beyond the West Causeway lies infinite depth, borrowing the naturally faintly painted scenery of the Western Hills outside the garden, creating a sense of openness. Indeed, the scenery is boundless and the meaning endless.

All the plaques and couplets on the Seventeen-Arch Bridge were written by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. On the horizontal inscribed board at the southern end of the bridge are the words “Riding the Waves,” describing the bridge as a rainbow soaring over the blue waters of Kunming Lake. The horizontal board at the northern end bears the words “Spirit Beast Crescents,” likening the bridge to a mythical aquatic creature lying in the water like a crescent moon. Another couplet at the northern end reads: “A rainbow rests on the stone beam, the shore draws long winds that never cease; waves curl back oar shadows, moonlight reflects as we gaze again.” The scenery of this bridge is even more delightful when visited on a serene and elegant night.

Address: Kunming Lake Road, Summer Palace, Haidian District, Beijing

Type: Bridge, Historical Site

Recommended Visit Duration: 15–20 minutes

Opening Hours:

6:30-20:00

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Admission is included in the Summer Palace ticket.

Summer Palace

Yulan Hall

Longevity Hill

Kunming Lake

Tower of Buddhist Incense, Summer Palace

Renshou Hall

Beijing Stone Boat