Twin Bridges Clear Sound

Twin Bridges Clear Sound

Introduction   Below the Clear Sound Pavilion lies the Imperial Reception Pavilion. To the left and right are the Bailong River and Heilong River. The arched bridges spanning the two rivers resemble rainbows soaring through the air and are called the “Twin Flying Bridges.” The confluence of the two rivers is known as Phoenix Mouth, where stands the Niuxin Pavilion with its red pillars and vermilion railings. From the pavilion’s railing, one can see a large black rock below shaped like a cow’s heart. The two rivers from upstream flow around the rock in a loop, and the water striking the rock sends up silver sprays, creating a crisp sound echoing through the valley—like the gentle plucking of an ancient zither. Hence the name “Twin Bridges Clear Sound.” Landscape architects have described it as a poem with sound and a painting in three dimensions. “Two flying rainbows cast their shadows, a cow’s heart rock stands through the ages”—these lines capture the charm of the “Twin Bridges Clear Sound.”