Seventeen-Arch Bridge

　　It is a long bridge that connects the eastern shore and South Lake Island. Built during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, it is the largest stone bridge in the garden. The bridge features 17 arches, gracefully stretching across the East Dyke and South Lake Island, resembling a rainbow lying on the water. Its design incorporates characteristics of both the Lugou Bridge in Beijing and the Baodai Bridge in Suzhou. The stone carvings on the bridge are exquisitely crafted, totaling 544 in all, varying in size. At the two ends of the bridge, there are also vividly sculpted stone beasts. The north side of the bridge’s architrave is inscribed with “Spirit Beast Resting Like a Crescent Moon,” while the south side reads “Riding the Waves.”

　　The Summer Palace is built along the water and hills, with Kunming Lake occupying about three-quarters of the entire area. In addition to various buildings scattered around the lake, there is also the West Dyke, adorned with six elegantly designed bridges. In the middle of the lake lies South Lake Island, connected to the shore by the beautiful Seventeen-Arch Bridge. The Summer Palace, originally serving as an imperial retreat and pleasure garden, spans 290 hectares (4,350 acres). The entire garden centers around the Tower of Buddhist Incense on Longevity Hill, with palaces, halls, towers, pavilions, corridors, and kiosks arranged according to the terrain and location, all exquisitely and beautifully designed.

　　The Seventeen-Arch Bridge connects to Kuoru Pavilion on the east and spans between the East Dyke and South Lake Island. It is not only the only passage to South Lake Island but also a key scenic spot in the lake area. The bridge is 150 meters long and 8 meters wide, making it the largest bridge in the Summer Palace. From afar, it looks like a long rainbow flying across the emerald waves. All plaques and couplets on the Seventeen-Arch Bridge were written by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. On the horizontal inscription at the southern end of the bridge are the words “Glistening Waves,” describing the bridge as a rainbow soaring above the blue waves of Kunming Lake. The horizontal plaque at the northern end bears the characters “Spirit Turtle Resting Under Moonlight,” likening the bridge to a mythical aquatic creature lying in the water like a crescent. Another pair of couplets at the northern end reads: “A rainbow lies across the stone bridge, drawing long breezes from the shore; moonlit oars ripple the waves, reflecting the bright moon’s gaze back again.” The scenery of this bridge is even more delightful when visited on a tranquil and elegant night. The white marble railings on both sides of the bridge feature 128 carved marble pillars, each adorned with exquisitely crafted stone lions in various poses—some embracing mother and cub, others playing and frolicking, chasing one another, or gazing attentively at the scenery, each vivid and lifelike. At each end of the bridge are two large stone beasts resembling qilin, majestic and imposing. There are also four fierce-looking carved stone beasts at both ends of the bridge, exceptionally vivid and striking.

　　Exiting Wenchang Pavilion and heading south, you’ll find Zhichun Pavilion on a lakeside islet. Named for being the first place where spring arrives due to the peach and willow trees planted across the island, it offers the best panoramic view of the entire garden. From the pavilion, visitors can gaze into the distance and observe both mid and close-range scenes. Nearby on the shore is the shrine of Yelü Chucai, a prime minister of the Yuan Dynasty. Further south lies the largest pavilion in the garden, Kuoru Pavilion, featuring an octagonal double-eave design supported by 24 round and 16 square pillars across three layers. This uniquely structured pavilion resembles a steelyard weight, anchoring the eastern end of the Seventeen-Arch Bridge and highlighting the key scenic area of South Lake Island on the western side. Beside Kuoru Pavilion stands a bronze ox, cast in 1775, which is a unique attraction. Beneath the bronze ox is a stone base carved with ocean wave patterns and a Sumeru pedestal, symbolizing its role in taming the waters.

　　From a lake-wide perspective, the long West Dyke and the shorter dykes branching off it divide the lake into three sections. The islands located within these sections—South Lake Island, Zaodian Hall, and Zhi jing Pavilion Island—symbolize the three legendary fairy mountains of the East Sea: Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou, 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 follows a technique of foreground-background contrast. Beyond the West Dyke lies infinite depth, borrowing the subtle natural scenery of the Western Hills outside the garden, evoking a sense of vastness. Truly, the scenery is boundless and the meaning endless.

　　All plaques and couplets on the Seventeen-Arch Bridge were written by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. On the horizontal inscription at the southern end of the bridge are the words “Glistening Waves,” describing the bridge as a rainbow soaring above the blue waves of Kunming Lake. The horizontal plaque at the northern end bears the characters “Spirit Turtle Resting Under Moonlight,” likening the bridge to a mythical aquatic creature lying in the water like a crescent. Another pair of couplets at the northern end reads: “A rainbow lies across the stone bridge, drawing long breezes from the shore; moonlit oars ripple the waves, reflecting the bright moon’s gaze back again.” The scenery of this bridge is even more delightful when visited on a tranquil and elegant night.