Imagine dragon boats gliding gently under a marble arch. That is the scene we could have witnessed at the Jade Belt Bridge. This bridge is also known as the Camel’s Back Bridge. It stands gracefully in Beijing’s Summer Palace.
Let me tell you about this stunning 18th-century pedestrian bridge. The Jade Belt Bridge isn’t just any bridge. It is the most famous of six bridges on Kunming Lake’s western shore.
Emperor Qianlong had it built around 1750. He wanted a bridge like those in southern China’s countryside. The Jade Belt Bridge is made of marble and white stone. Look closely. You will see carvings of cranes and other animals on its railings.
The arch is high enough for the Qianlong Emperor’s dragon boat to pass under it. The emperor and empress used this route during special occasions. They were traveling from Kunming Lake to the Yu River.
The Jade Belt Bridge is one of the Summer Palace’s most beautiful features. There is another similar bridge called Xiuyi Bridge. It is southeast of here.
Did you know a scholar named Wang Chaosheng found something interesting? He discovered degraded writing on a stele’s back. He believed it was a poem by Emperor Qianlong from 1755. The poem mentioned the Jade Belt Bridge. It connected it to the Gardens of Clear Ripples. That was the original Summer Palace name.
The poem reads: “To the west of Jade Belt Bridge – the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving. The silk clouds of the weavers and the rain of the plowing farmers study the methods of Wu. The water and weather of north and south are pretty much the same. Food and clothing share the same source so all must work with diligence.”
The Jade Belt Bridge is more than stone and marble. It is a connection to emperors and artists. It reminds us of China’s rich history and culture. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty and the stories it holds.