08 May 2024

Broken Bridge across the West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang (China)

Two great snakes transform themselves into two young girls Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing. They travel to Hangzhou, where they meet a young man, named Xu Xian. Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen fall in love and got married. The abbot of Jinshan Temple tells Xu Xian that his wife is a snake and that he should have her drink realgar wine. Bai Suzhen unsuspectingly drinks the wine and reveals her true form as a snake. Xu Xian dies of shock. Bai Suzhen travels to dangerous Kunlun, where she steals a magical herb to give life to Xu Xian. But back to life, Xu Xian, fearful of his wife, travels to Jinshan Temple, where the abbott imprisons him in order to save himself from the snakes. When Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing fight with the abbott to rescue him, Xu Xian realizes his wife's love for him is genuine and no longer cares if she is a snake. He reunite with his wife on the Broken Bridge. Xiaoqing still furious, intends to kill him, but Bai Suzhen stops her. Xu Xian expresses his regret, and both girls forgive him.

Chinese legend about this bridge