Meet with Culture | River of Friendship: Liangma River and Yansha Bridge

The Liangma River, located in the eastern part of Beijing, can be traced back to the “Liang Ma He,” or “River of Drying Horses,” once part of the imperial stables during the Ming dynasty. Over time, it has transformed into a vibrant international waterfront, echoing with the laughter of both citizens and guests from around the world. As an important cultural landmark for Beijing’s international exchanges, what was once merely a utilitarian waterway now carries the city’s aspiration to connect with the world.

亮马河位于北京东隅，历史可以追溯到明代皇家御马苑的“晾马河”。时光流转，这里已蜕变为充满活力的国际水岸，汇聚中外宾客与市民的欢声笑语。作为北京国际交往的重要人文地标，曾经只是实用功能的水道，如今承载着北京连接世界的愿景。

Today, I’m at the Liangma River, a place people now call the ‘Beijing Seine’. Standing by the water, I see people paddling, jogging, or just relaxing. This river is no longer just a waterway — it has become a stage for international encounters and everyday stories.”

今天我来到了亮马河，人们称它为“北京的塞纳河”。站在水边，我看到有人划桨、有人慢跑、有人静静休憩。这条河不再只是单纯的水道，而是成为了国际交流和日常故事的舞台。

Few know that this lively river once had a very practical role. In the Ming Dynasty, imperial horses were bathed here, their manes dried on the banks. That’s why the river was first called ‘Liang Ma He’ — the River of Drying Horses.

很少有人知道，这条如今热闹的河流，曾经有过非常实用的功能。在明代，皇家马匹会在此洗浴，然后在河岸边晾干鬃毛。因此它最初被称为“晾马河”。

The name “Liangma” carries memories of horses and merchant caravans. During the Yongle reign of the Ming dynasty, after the Yongle Emperor moved the capital to Beijing, an imperial stable was established here, where royal horses were grazed, bathed, and had their manes dried. Later, caravans entering the city would also stop here to clean and prepare their horses, believing that well-groomed animals would bring good fortune. In the Qing dynasty, a white marble bridge was built over the river, known as Liangma Bridge. For centuries, this place bore witness to Beijing’s transformations. By the late 20th century, however, the river had deteriorated into a foul-smelling ditch. Its revival stands today as a testament to Beijing’s resilience.

亮马河的名字承载着马匹与商旅的记忆。明永乐年间，明成祖迁都后，这里曾设有御马苑，皇家在此放牧、洗浴马匹，再将鬃毛晾干。后来，进京的商旅车队也会在此停驻，给马匹清洗整备，他们相信干净的马匹会带来吉祥。清代，人们在河上修建了汉白玉石桥——亮马桥。数百年间，这里见证了北京的历史变迁。20世纪末，这条河一度沦为臭水沟。而它的复兴，正是北京坚韧精神的缩影。

In the 1980s, Beijing planned its “Third Embassy District” around the Liangma River. Soon, embassies of the United States, France, Japan, Korea, India and many others settled here. Hotels like the Kunlun and international malls such as Yansha became landmarks. The river turned into a front yard for diplomats and global travelers. Its 24 bridges, each with a name and story, link not only two banks but also diverse communities. Events from fashion shows to art festivals unfold on its waterside stages. Every day, thousands of foreign residents and visitors pass through this neighborhood, making Liangma River a living symbol of Beijing’s role as an international exchange hub. The river thus flows not only with water, but also with voices from around the world.

上世纪80年代，北京在亮马河一带规划了“第三使馆区”。很快，美国、法国、日本、韩国、印度等国的大使馆纷纷落户。昆仑饭店、燕莎商城等国际地标也在此崛起。亮马河成了外交官和国际旅客的“前庭”。如今的24座跨河桥，不仅连通两岸，也连接着多元社区。这里的舞台常有时尚秀、艺术节，每天都有上千外国居民与游客穿行其中，使亮马河成为北京国际交流的生动象征。这条河流淌的不仅是水，更是世界各地的声音。

Walking here today, I find myself surrounded by embassies, hotels, and cultural centers. This is one of the most international corners of Beijing, where different languages, cuisines, and traditions meet along the same riverbank.

今天走在这里，我被大使馆、酒店和文化中心环绕。这是北京最具国际化的区域之一，不同的语言、美食和文化在同一条河岸相遇。

The Yansha Bridge area is the commercial heart of the Liangma River. In the 1990s, Beijing’s first Sino-foreign joint-venture department store, Yansha Mall, opened here. In recent years, with the rise of the “International Waterfront,” this district has pioneered a new model of riverside economy, where cultural exchange and commercial consumption merge into one — the river itself nurturing the flow of people, culture, and economic vitality.

燕莎桥一带是亮马河的商业核心。上世纪90年代，北京首家中外合资百货燕莎商城在此开业。近年来，随着“国际风情水岸”的形成，这里开创了融合文化交流与商贸消费于一体的水岸经济新模式——河流孕育了人流、文化与商业活力的流动。

From the river, I step onto Yansha Bridge, where tradition meets modern commerce. Around me are luxury shops, cafes, and malls. This area shows how a river can carry both history and economic vitality.

从河畔走上燕莎桥，我感受到传统与现代商业在这里交汇。周围是商场、咖啡馆和精品店。这片区域展示了一条河如何同时承载历史与经济活力。

Standing at the Community of Shared Future Plaza, I see how the Liangma River connects more than neighborhoods. It connects people, cultures, and hopes. This river once bathed horses, and now it embraces the world. Its waters remind us that true vitality flows when we share it together.

站在“命运共同体广场”，我看到亮马河连接的不只是街区，而是人与人、文化与文化、希望与希望。这条河曾经是洗马之地，如今却拥抱着世界。它提醒我们，真正的活力来自彼此的分享。

The journey along Liangma River ends at Yansha and the plaza named after a “Community of Shared Future.” By day, bridges stretch across the river, boats move gently, and people of diverse backgrounds gather by the banks. Here, the story of the river comes full circle: from horses and caravans to embassies and festivals, from forgotten pollution to a revitalized lifeline. The Liangma River embodies Beijing’s transformation into a world city — resilient, hospitable, and open. It mirrors how a city can rediscover itself through water, and how rivers can carry both history and future. To walk by its banks is to witness a dialogue between tradition and modernity, between China and the world. In its rippling waves, one sees not only reflections of sunlight but also of shared dreams.

亮马河的行程在燕莎与“命运共同体广场”结束。白天，桥梁横跨水面，游船缓缓而行，不同肤色的人们在此相聚。这里让河流的故事画上圆满的句号：从御马与商旅到使馆与节庆，从一度的污浊到如今的生机。亮马河见证了北京迈向世界城市的历程——坚韧、开放、好客。它映照出城市如何通过水脉重塑自我，也展示了河流如何承载历史与未来。沿着河畔漫步，人们感受到的是传统与现代、中国与世界的对话。在粼粼波光中，映照的不只是阳光，还有共同的梦想。

出品人：王晓辉

Executive Producer: Wang Xiaohui

总监制：薛立胜

Chief Supervisor: Xue Lisheng

总策划：蔚力

Chief Planner: Yu Li

制片：张芃芃

Producer: Zhang Pengpeng

策划：张芃芃 丁素云 曹川川 李颖

Creative Planning: Zhang Pengpeng, Ding Suyun, Cao Chuanchuan, Li Ying

导演：龚小磊

Director: Gong Xiaolei

撰稿：张芃芃

Screenwriter: Zhang Pengpeng

主持人：荣希玛 (Chaima El Moujradi) 劳拉 (Laura Ugalde) 德密柰 (Marina Dech)

Hosts: Chaima El Moujradi, Laura Ugalde, Marina Dech

摄像：李春浩 王恺琦

Cinematography: Li Chunhao, Wang Kaiqi

跟机：王俊胜

Camera Assistant: Wang Junsheng

剪辑：王恺琦 顾钧予 刘泽敖

Editing: Wang Kaiqi, Gu Junyu, Liu Zeao

调色：康凯

Color Grading: Kang Kai

混音：康凯

Sound Mixing: Kang Kai

推广：孟超 李昭 姜壹平 苏向东 丁素云 王雁青 葛蕾 秦金月 张静

Promotion: Meng Chao, Li Zhao, Jiang Yiping, Su Xiangdong, Ding Suyun, Wang Yanqing, Ge Lei, Qin Jinyue, Zhang Jing

节目承制：大音

Produced by: NEWSAYING (Shanghai) Consulting and Planning Co., Ltd.