Shibaozhai (Precious Stone Fortress) 石宝寨

Situated on the north bank of the Yangtze River near Zhongxian County, Precious Stone Fortress, standing on a huge crag over 10 meters high, represents the first gem of Chinese architecture to be encountered on the downstream journey. From afar, the protruding 220-meter hill on the north bank can appear to resemble a jade seal, and therefore it is also called a “Jade Seal Hill” as its rectangular shape is like that of a huge seal. Legend tells that it is a rock left by a legendary figure by the name of Nuwa, a creator-goddess who patched with stone blocks the holes in the sky made by Gonggong 共工，the Spirit of Water, in a conflict with Zhuanxu颛顼，the spirit of fire. A red pavilion hugs one side of the crag. Its tall yellow entrance gate is decorated with lions and dragons and etched with an inscription inviting tourists to climb the ladder and ascend into a “Little Fairyland.” Atop the hill is a temple called “Lanruodian兰若殿” built during the early reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) in the Qing Dynasty and access to it is by an iron chain attached to the cliff. A 12-storey pagoda-shaped wooden pavilion was added in 1819 during the reign of Jiaqing (1796-1820) in the Qing Dynasty so that monks and tourists to the temple would not suffer the discomforts of the chain ascent. In 1956 three more stories were added to the building. Each floor if dedicated to the famous generals of the Three Kingdoms period, local scholars and renowned Chinese poets. The building contains a staircase leading up the way from ground to the hilltop, which is otherwise difficult to reach. The panoramic view tourists get when atop the hill is very much like a traditional Chinese painting.

In front of Ganya Palace at the top of Jade Hill is the Duck Hole. Legend continues that as spring turns to summer, if the tourist takes a live duck and drop it through the hole, it will quickly reappear swimming in the Yangtze River. In the past the monks apparently drew their drinking from this hole by using a pipe made of bamboo.

The spirit wall in the temple’s main hall is constructed of excavated Han-dynasty bricks. The hall behind is dedicated on the right to Generals Zhang Fei (?-221) and Yan Yan of the Three Kingdoms, on the left to General Qin Liangyu (1576-1648) who fought bravely against the Manchu forces. A mural shows that the goddess Nuwa repairing the sky. Two side corridors and a back hall display archaeological finds and portraits of local Qing-dynasty officials. Fossils of fish and a tail section of a dinosaur discovered by the river’s edge can also be seen.]

In the rear hall are the remains of the Rice Flowing Hole. It is said that long time ago just enough husked rice would flow up from the small hole each day for the needs of the monks and their guests. One day a greedy monk, thinking he could become rich, chiseled a bigger hole, and the rice flow ceased forever. Most of the tourist cruise ships dock at Precious Stone Fortress for a few hours’ visit.

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