Shibaozhai

Shibaozhai, located in Zhongxian County and along the north bank of the Yangtze River, is a key protection unit of key cultural relics and a national scenic area.

Construction & Features of Shibaozhai

Initially built in the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, Shibaozhai features a peculiar style and is composed of a fortress gate, a fortress body, and a pavilion at the top that guards the only path up the mountain. This 12-story, 56-meter-high construction was surprisingly built without even an iron nail, and all structures are mortise and tenon joints. Therefore, it is the largest column-and-brace structure architecture that exists in China, with the largest number of floors and is among the Eight Wonderful Architectures in the world.

It is located in the Three Gorges Project reservoir. In order to protect this precious relic, a round of lining was built around Yuyin Mountain in 2005, along with a cement retaining wall.

Highlights of Shibaozhai

Shibaozhai looks like an oddly shaped pagoda hugging a hill. The hill is on the bank of the Yangtze River, which has steep slopes. A three-story temple was built on the hill that seems to sit on the structure of the building, but it is not. Like the Lesser Three Gorges and the Ghost City of Fengdu, Shibaozhai is a popular sight for Yangtze River cruises. The pagoda attracts attention with its characteristic shape. The red color contrasts strongly with the green of the trees and bushes and the color of the rock wall of the hill. A large shiny golden door also stands out. The time at the top of the pagoda is a Taoist temple for the god Mansjuri. The 12-story structure below rests on the rock face, and on the first 9 floors there are many works of art and a ship-like staircase. Climbing the ladder can be difficult. But there is another external staircase that goes up to the top. However, people using the outside staircase cannot see inside.

Cultural relics and calligraphy and paintings of famous people unearthed in Zhong District since the New Stone Age are displayed in the temple hall. On the side of the river is a nine-story red pavilion that rests on the side of the hill and serves as a walkway to the temple at the top. At the base of the pavilion there is a yellow entrance. Upon entering the pavilion and climbing the wooden stairs, we recommend stopping for a moment, touching the construction and looking into the distance towards the vast river to feel the deep history and cultural deposits.

Nowadays, Shibaozhai has become one of the must-see scenic areas for Three Gorges tourists. Observed from afar, it is like an immense bonsai of mountain and water, embedded in the Yangtze River, whose mist-covered waters do not dwarf Shibaozhai, but rather make it more than charming.