The bridge is called the "Five-Pavilion Bridge". Its alternative name, "Lotus Bridge" or "Lotus Blossom Bridge", is a translation of the bridge's original Chinese name,[1] either named for the Lotus Blossom Dyke that the bridge connects to on its southern side[2] or for a supposed resemblance of its pavilions to the petals of a lotus flower.[3]
The bridge was constructed in 1757[4] (Qianlong22), connecting the residences on the north bank of the lake to the back of the Temple of the Lotus Mind to the south.[3] Its construction was funded by local salt merchants to welcome the Qianlong Emperor of the Qingdynasty during his second southern tour of Jiangnan.[5][2] The bridge self-consciously mirrored the Five Dragon PavilionsinBeijing, combining with the earlier White Dagoba at the Lianxing Temple to emulate the capital's Beihai Park.[5] Although representative of a Qing style of covered bridges variously known as "corridor bridges", "rain and wind bridges", and "pavilion bridges",[2] it was still listed by the famed Chinese structural engineerMao Yisheng as China's "most elegant and artistic bridge".[4]
The bridge was greatly damaged during fighting between the Taiping and Qing armies[6] over the course of 1853,[7] with the pavilions entirely destroyed. They were subsequently repaired by the end of the Qing,[6][8] but only three of the five pavilions remained standing in 1929.[9] The bridge was later renovated in 1933, 1951–1953,[10] 1956, and 1982.[11] As the "Lotus Bridge", the Five-Pavilion Bridge was inscribed along with the nearby White Dagoba as the 533rd Major Cultural Heritage Site under National-Level Protection added during the 6th round of nominations on 25 May 2006.[12]
The bridge is 55.3 meters (181 ft) long.[3] It rests on 12 granite bases of various sizes, supporting 15 arches in three styles. The largest arch has a span of 7 meters (23 ft). The largest central pavilion is connected to the four smaller pavilions at each corner by covered walkways.[2] The present pavilions rise on scarlet pillars and are covered with imperial yellow tiles.[13]
