In the Spring and Autumn Period, Qin Mugong took the lead in Xirong, changed Zishui to Bashui, and built a bridge, so it was called Baqiao. In the third year of Emperor Huang (22 years), Baqiao Bridge was flooded. Wang Mang didn't think it was a good omen, so he changed the name of the bridge to Changcun Bridge. Later, it was destroyed several times in the Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the forty-six years of Qing Qianlong (178 1), Shaanxi Governor Bi Yuan rebuilt this bridge, but the scale of the bridge is not what it used to be. It was not until the 14th year of Daoguang reign (1834) that Governor Yang Cai built it according to the old system. This bridge is 380 meters long and 7 meters wide, and there is a stone fence beside it. There are 72 holes under the bridge, each with a span of 4 to 7 meters, and 408 bridge columns. 1949, in order to strengthen Baqiao, the bridge was expanded and the original slate bridge was changed into a reinforced concrete bridge. Now the width of the bridge is 10 meter, and sidewalks with a width of 1.5 meter are left on both sides, which greatly improves road transportation.
Bahe River is a river that originates from the blue valley of Qinling Mountains, traverses the east of Xi and flows northward into Weihe River. As early as the Qin and Han dynasties, people built dikes and planted willows on both sides of the Bahe River. In spring, catkins fly with the wind, like snowflakes in winter. Since ancient times, Bashui, Baqiao and Liu Ba have been associated with farewell. In the Tang Dynasty, a post station was set up on Baqiao Bridge. Most of those who bid farewell to relatives and friends and went to the East broke up here, and some even sent willows to each other. In the Tang Dynasty, there was an atmosphere of "people send guests here and willows give them away", which was enjoyed by literati and poets. Therefore, this bridge was once called "ecstasy bridge", and there is a saying that "farewell every year, snow flies on Baqiao". Since then, "Snow Scene on Baqiao Bridge" has been known as one of the "Eight Scenes in Guanzhong". Since then, taking "snow" as a metaphor has become a common technique for poets to chant willow.
Farewell to Fuling (Li Bai)
Take you to Fuling Pavilion,
The current is very strong,
There are ancient trees that don't bloom,
There are sad spring grasses,
I asked the Qin people for directions,
Cloud is the ancient road south of Wang Mi.
The ancient road runs through Xijing,
Violets, sunset, floating clouds,
Just when my heart is broken tonight,
The oriole absolutely can't bear to listen!
In this poem, Li Bai, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, freely described the Baqiao Bridge in Xi 'an.
"Snowstorm in Liu Ba" is one of the "Eight Scenes of Chang 'an" in Xi. On both sides of Baqiao Bridge, the floodplain is wide, the long bridge crosses the river, weeping willows hang down branches, and the clear water and blue sky are boundless. In late spring, the wind blows catkins all over the sky, just like snowflakes. Because "Liu" and "Liu" are homonyms, expressing homesickness, over time, Baqiao Harmony has become synonymous with homesickness and sadness. No wonder Li Bai wrote such a sad poem.