A chiral nematic liquid crystal composition has minimal temperature dependency of the natural pitch and temperature dependency of the wavelength selective reflection and low temperature storage stability thereof is excellent. A chiral nematic liquid crystal composition with a broad liquid crystal temperature range is used in a bistable liquid crystal display element, and a bistable liquid crystal display element comprising the liquid crystal composition. The chiral nematic liquid crystal composition comprises optically active compounds represented by general formula (I-a) and general formula (II-a): ##STR00001## R.sup.2P.sup.1-L.sup.1.sub.SP.sup.2-L.sup.2-P.sup.3--R.sup.3 (II-a)wherein the general formula (II-a) has the same helical twisting direction as the general formula (I-a), and shows a positive temperature dependency for the natural pitch, and a HTP value of at least 3. A bistable liquid crystal display element comprises the liquid crystal composition.