Wangxian Stone Bridge

Wangxian Stone Bridge

Wangxian Stone Bridge is located about a hundred meters west of Anzi Bridge (originally outside the back wall of Liu's Residence in the south, now outside the north courtyard wall of Yishui County Winery). Legend has it that the owner of Liu's Residence was once close to Lü Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals, who designed an Eight Trigrams residence layout for the Liu family. In the eight directions—east, west, south, north, southeast, northeast, southwest, and northwest—of the Eight Trigrams residence, there were pairs of symmetrical gates, and strangers entering often got lost and couldn’t find their way out. After the Eight Trigrams residence was completed, Lü Dongbin left. Before departing, he told the Liu family that if they missed him, they could stand on the bridge and look westward to see him. Hence the name “Wangxian Stone Bridge” (Stone Bridge for Gazing at the Immortal). A poem bears witness to this:

Wangxian Stone Bridge

Yang Guangpu

The immortal departed thousands of autumns ago, the crescent moon hangs in the sky as the waters flow freely.

No need for the bluebird’s summons to refine elixirs, my body is light as I ride the white clouds and roam.

The wind flutters the jade pendants and I glance back, people lean on the railings and all raise their heads.

When I arrive at that time, I’ll ride the crane too, with a waistful of ten thousand coins to head for Yangzhou.

Wangxian Stone Bridge

Dang Baoxiu

I too once stood upon Wangxian Bridge, where East Gate’s bustling road stretched long.

The vast Yi River’s spring waters are green, the dense crenellations rise high with wine shop flags.

Next door to the Liu family’s Eight Trigrams Mansion, together with Lüzu’s three celestial birds.

Do not read the writings of Penglai, better to attend the evening lessons at Tuancheng early.