Shibao Zhai

Shibao Zhai Shibao Zhai, built on the north banks of the Yangtze River, is breathtaking as you approach it by boat. As you sail down the Yangtze, your eyes will note a wooden pavilion, surrounded by the cliffs. At 12 stories high, Shibao Zhai draws the gaze upward, noting each floor’s distinctive appearance.

The admission fee for Shibao Zhai is CNY 50. Traveling to it is best done by hired boat or as part of a larger river cruise down the Yangtze. You will find it easily accessed from a nearby landing.

278 km. by river from Chongqing, this historic site was built during the Qing Dynasty and framed through the use of wire rope. Each floor is dedicated to a different scholar, poet or famous general. Using folk architectural techniques, the building presents a traditional Chinese face and, yet, is part of a modern Chinese sensibility due to its wooden composition.

Each of the three parts of Shibao Zhai (the gate, the body and the temple) draws upon the strength of the mountain and the cliffs that surround and back it. Its shape, that of an Imperial Chinese seal, further adds to its elegance as does the name, which translates as Precious Stone Fortress (derived from its occupation by rebellion forces during the Ming Dynasty).

You can reach the top of the pavilion by way of a spiral stone staircase but, should you not undertake the climb, you will see wonders on each floor. Admire the Yangtze as it flows past through each floor’s windows or look over the many inscriptions, steles and murals that each floor offers the visitors.

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