China and Vietnam share legend of West Lake
2023-12-11 14:34:12 source: CGTN
A file photo shows the Tran Quoc Pagoda, located on an island in West Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo/CFP)
A file photo shows a bird's-eye view of West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. (Photo/IC)
West Lake in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Hanoi, Vietnam, there is also a West Lake, with the same name as the one in Hangzhou. Tran Quoc Pagoda, located on an island in the West Lake of Hanoi, looks slightly like the Leifeng Pagoda of the West Lake in Hangzhou.
The lakes in Hangzhou and Hanoi not only bear the same name, but also have a mythical root. According to a folk legend, in ancient times, two fairies came down from heaven without permission. When leaving the mortal world, they couldn't bear to part, so they each threw down a bronze mirror. One mirror fell in Hangzhou, and the other in Hanoi. The two mirrors later turned into the lakes in each city. Although it's just a myth, people can feel the connection between China and Vietnam through these stories.
Source: CGTN
Editor: Tan Qikuan
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