Shibaozhai, located in Zhongxian County and by the north bank of the Yangtze River, is a national key cultural relics protection unit and national scenic area. Initially built in the Wanli’s reign of the Ming Dynasty, Shibaozhai features a unique style and consists of the fortress gate, fortress body, and pavilion. The 12-story and 56-meter-high building was surprisingly built without even an iron nail, and all the structures are of mortise and tenon joint. Thus it is China’s largest extant column-and-tie-structured architecture with the largest number of stories, and in the Eight Architectures of Wonder around the world.

Shibaozhai, located in Zhongxian County and by the north bank of the Yangtze River, is a national scenic area.

Walking into the pavilion and going up the wooden stairs, you are advised to stop for a while, touch the building, look far into the expanse river, and feel the profound history and cultural deposits.

To protect this site, a round of revetment was built around Yuyin Mountain in 2005, together with a cement retaining wall.

Shibaozhai is located at the reservoir of the Three Gorges Project. To protect this site, a round of revetment was built around Yuyin Mountain in 2005, together with a cement retaining wall.

Today, Shibaozhai has become one of the must-visit scenic areas for tourists to the Three Gorges.

Today, Shibaozhai has become one of the must-visit scenic areas for tourists to the Three Gorges. Observed from afar, it is like a vast mountain-and-water bonsai, inlaid on the Yangtze River, whose mist-covered water doesn't dwarf Shibaozhai but make it more than charming.

Source: Shangyou News