Broken Bridge & Bai Causeway
断桥·白堤
The place where Xu Xian and the White Lady met in The Legend of the White Snake. Bai Causeway links Broken Bridge with Gushan Hill, forming West Lake's most popular photo route.
Broken Bridge sits at the east end of Bai Causeway. After snowfall in winter, the sunny side of the bridge melts first, so from a distance it looks broken. That is how it got its name, “Broken Bridge Snow.” In The Legend of the White Snake, this is where Xu Xian and the White Lady first met, when he lent her an umbrella. Bai Causeway is about 1 km long and links Broken Bridge with Gushan Hill. Tang-dynasty poet Bai Juyi is said to have built the causeway, which is known for its line, “one willow, one peach tree.” Entry is free. It is very crowded during the day on holidays, so visit early in the morning or in the evening. From North Mountain Street, you can climb Baoshan Hill to see Baochu Pagoda. Heading west leads to Gushan Hill and Autumn Moon over Calm Lake.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Baoshi Hill & Baochu Pagoda
- Pinghu Qiuyue (Autumn Moon over Calm Lake)
- West Lake Musical Fountain
- Gushan Hill & Xiling Seal Engravers' Society
- Zhejiang Provincial Museum
- Hubin Pedestrian Street & in77
- Yellow Dragon Cave
- Yue Fei Temple