Published : 2024-12-30
As winter has arrived in all parts of China, it's time to savour the beauty that only comes with this season, and the famous West Lake in east China's Hangzhou is one of them.
Swirling snowflakes add an extra charm and poetic appeal to the "Three Wonders of West Lake", namely Gushan Mountain, Broken Bridge, and Long Bridge.
Behind these beautiful sceneries, there are in fact three touching stories. Let's feel the exclusive winter romance of Hangzhou together!
West Lake in Winter
With the change of seasons and the colourful scenery of the West Lake, many people choose to visit Hangzhou when the spring flowers are in bloom.
In fact, the West Lake in winter has a different beauty.

To enjoy the most beautiful snowfall at West Lake, the "Three Wonders of West Lake" (西湖三絕) are what you cannot miss.
However, there are actually many beautiful sceneries around West Lake, and why are these three spots particularly prominent? It starts with their stories.
Broken Bridge: Love story of White Snake and Xu Xian
The Broken Bridge (斷橋), one of the Three Wonders of West Lake, is located at the point separating the inner West Lake and the outer West Lake in the north of Hangzhou.
Among the many bridges of West Lake, it is the most famous one.
When the snow first clears, the stone arch of the Broken Bridge, covered in ice, gets melted by the warm sunlight, revealing the rails of the bridge, while the two ends of the bridge remain hidden under the thick snow, seeming to appear and disappear in the distance.
Therefore, the bridge got its name, "Broken Bridge in Remnant Snow" (斷橋殘雪).

Aside from the scenery, there is also a the a legendary love story about the Broken Bridge also: Bai Suzhen (白素貞) and Xu Xian (許仙) from the Chinese legend "The Legend of the White Snake" (《白蛇傳》) met on this bridge, where their love began with an umbrella.
From acquaintance to love and separation, their true love, unyielding to worldly prejudices, has touched countless hearts, becoming a timeless classic and endowing Hangzhou with a unique touch of Eastern romance.
Read more: Understanding Chinese culture starting from Hangzhou West Lake
Long Bridge: Farewell moments of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai
Apart from Broken Bridge, Long Bridge (長橋), which is also one of the Three Wonders of West Lake, is a popular attraction in West Lake as well.
In China's ancient times, the Long Bridge was indeed very long, about 500 metres.
However, with the changes of dynasties, as well as the natural environment and climate changes, the surface area of the lake continued to shrink. The current Long Bridge is only about 5 metres long, turning into a "Short Bridge."

As the Chinese saying goes, "Long Bridge is not long, but the affection is long" (長橋不長情意長), though the magnificent view of the Long Bridge can no longer be seen, the story of the it will no doubt still stir ripples in people's hearts.
West Lake has three major lovers' bridges: the first is Xiling Bridge (西泠橋), the second is Broken Bridge, and the third is Long Bridge. The Long Bridge tells the poignant ancient Chinese love story of "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai" (《梁山伯與祝英台》).
Zhu Yingtai, a young girl from a wealthy family disguised herself as a man to study in Hangzhou and fell in love at first sight with Liang Shanbo, a commoner.
They studied together at the academy for three years, accompanying each other day and night. However, the two were separated by Zhu's family.
During a heavy snowfall, they bid farewell to each other on the Long Bridge. In the midst of the vast white snow, they lingered unwilling to part.
Later, people named this scene "Eighteen Farewells" (「十八相送」) to commemorate their undying love.
Apart from the story of Liang and Zhu, there is another sad love story about the Long Bridge.
During China's Southern Song period (960-1279), Wang Xuanjiao (王宣教), a scholar from Qiantang, and a girl named Tao Shi'er (陶師兒) fell in love, but their affection was thwarted by Tao's mother.
In the end, they agreed to drown together in the lake on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Gushan Mountain: The famous courtesan Su Xiaoxiao
The last of the Three Wonders of West Lake—Gushan (孤山), or Gu Mountain, which means "lonely mountain" in Chinese, connects with Xiling Bridge, and is the largest island in West Lake.
Since the Tang and Song dynasties, the scenery of Gu Mountain has been renowned worldwide. When you climb up the mountain and look out over the vast expanse of the lake and mountains, you can easily take in the beautiful snowy scenery of West Lake.
As the best lookout point for viewing the beautiful scenery of West Lake, several emperors have built palaces on Gushan. Since emperors often referred to themselves as the "lonely ruler" (寡人), Gu Mountain thus got its name.
Read more: Yuhu Bay: A hidden gem of Hangzhou attractions by West Lake

The story of Gushan might not be as well-known as the Broken Bridge and Long Bridge, but it is equally touching.
Su Xiaoxiao (蘇小小), a talented and beautiful courtesan of Qiantang during the Southern Qi period ((479-502)), met the gentle and refined Ruan Yu (阮鬱) on Xiling Bridge and fell in love with him.
However, they were separated by the constraints of the feudal system. After Ruan Yu left, there was no news of him. Su Xiaoxiao fell ill due to her unrequited love and never recovered.
Later, Su met another fated person—Bao Ren (鮑仁), a poor scholar on his way to take the imperial exam in the capital. However, Su Xiao Xiao died before Bao Ren finally returned from the examination to reunite with her.
At last, Bao Ren buried her beside Xiling Bridge and inscribed the couplet on her tomb at the "Mucai Pavilion" (慕才亭).
Broken Bridge, Long Bridge, and Gu Mountain, the Three Wonders of West Lake embody the touching yet ultimately unfulfilled romantic love stories of ancient China, which have inspired endless imagination.
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