Baling Bridge is situated on the Qingni River, 4 kilometers west of Xuchang City. Legend has it that it is the place where Guan Yu bid farewell to Cao Cao. Hence the bridge became well-known. The bridge is a 3-hole blue stone structure, 3 meters above the water.
In 200 A.D. (Han Dynasty), Cao Cao defeated Liu Bei in Xuzhou. Then he captured Guan Yu and Liu Bei' two wives at Xiapi (a town close to Xuzhou). Cao admired Guan Yu and treated him well back in Xuchang, but Guan Yu didn't forget the old master, Liu Bei. He escorted Liu Bei's wives on a journey to find the master. Cao Cao took it a great pity without Guan Yu's service and went to Baling Bridge to offer a robe as well as wine to bid farewell. Guan Yu doubted his kindnesses, so sitting on the back of his horse, he used his sword to take the robe and left after a long bow. His following long and hard journey has been on everybody's lips ever since. To commemorate Guan Yu's devotion and courage, a temple was built on the west side of the bridge.
The bridge is wide enough for two cars to go abreast and 90m long. On each bank stands a line of aspen and willow trees. At the bridgehead there is an upright stone tablet erected by Zuo Liangyu, a general of the Ming Dynasty, saying “the place where Guan Yu took the robe with his sword”. On another stone tablet read the inscriptions named “Farewell to Cao Cao”, which is perfectly preserved. Four other stone steles, stating the story of how Guan Yu declined Cao Cao's offer and took the robe with his sword and praising him for his loyalty and great popularity among the people, had been erected in the following reigns of Emperor Kang Xi, Yong Zheng, Qian Long of the Qing Dynasty.
The attraction consists of the Baling Bridge, the Temple of Saint Guan and ancient garden-styled architectures. There are three yards in Temple of Saint Guan in which there are the gate, the tower of bell and drum, the main hall, the yard for Taoists, and the statues for Guan Yu, Cao Cao and Liu Bei's two wives. Guan Yu's statue was created vividly showing his vigor and valance when he reined in the horse. Age-old cypress trees and the stele forest are also a good sight.
Shiliang River runs across the scenic spot, over which Baling Bridge looks like a crescent moon. The drooping willows and causeways make up a natural painting. The ancient pathways and old steles stand along with the green cypresses and imposing temples, making the area one important attraction on the Three Kingdoms Strategic Tourism Route on the book of A Trip to China's Places of Historical Interests and Relics. |
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