Wanshou Garden (万寿园) in Jingzhou is a tranquil oasis surrounded by Jingjiang River on three sides, capturing the attention of visitors with its renowned “Wanli Changjiang Diyi Ji” (First Rocky Outcrop of the Yangtze River) known as Guanyin Ji and the Ming Dynasty “Wanshou Baota” (Longevity Pagoda). The garden is intricately designed, offering a serene atmosphere. The ancient Guanyin Pavilion showcases exquisite root carvings, a stone appreciation gallery, and artistic masterpieces from renowned local artists. The garden’s long corridors follow the meandering course of the river, adorned with pavilions, towers, blooming flowers, lush trees, and ancient pagodas, creating a harmonious and elegant environment.
In early spring, the garden is adorned with flourishing branches and the songs of rare birds, while midsummer nights bring a refreshing breeze along the river. Clear and pleasant, the garden takes on a serene charm during the deep autumn days with fiery foliage. As winter approaches, the landscape transforms into a pristine, snow-covered wonderland. Wanshou Garden showcases a myriad of enchanting scenes throughout the seasons, making it a captivating destination for visitors seeking natural beauty and historical significance.
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Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 8.00 – 17.00; Last admission: 16.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0716-8503149 |
Location and Transportation
Wanshou Garden is situated atop Guanyin Ji on the Jingzhou embankment of the Yangtze River, in the Shashi District of Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, China. The precise address is 90 Jingdi Road. To get there, you can take bus 5 or 17 and get off at Tongqu Road Intersection Stop (通衢路口站).
Highlights of Wanshou Garden
Guanyin Ji (Guanyin Outcrop)
Guanyin Ji, dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty, derives its name from the presence of the Guanyin Temple (Guanyin Pavilion) built on the rocky outcrop. Also known as Xiangbi Ji, or Elephant Trunk Outcrop, due to its shape resembling an elephant’s trunk, this outcrop extends directly into the vast and turbulent waters of the Yangtze River. During the annual Yangtze River floods, Guanyin Ji bravely faces the rushing currents, mitigating the risks to the Jingzhou embankment. Over the centuries, it has played a crucial role in safeguarding the region. After years of restoration efforts, Guanyin Ji now features a spacious square at its peak, approximately 1,000 square meters in size, offering an excellent vantage point to admire the river. Standing at the outcrop, visitors can gaze towards the distant expanse of the river, where the convergence of sky and water creates a breathtaking panorama. During peak flood seasons, the thunderous roar of the waves and the sight of powerful torrents cascading down from the horizon make for a truly awe-inspiring and spectacular experience.
Wanshou Baota (Longevity Pagoda)
Built in the 27th year of the Jiajing era (1548) by Prince Zhu Xianwei, Wanshou Baota stands as a testament to prayers for Emperor Jiajing’s longevity. Erected on the banks of the river at Xiangbi Ji, this eight-sided, seven-tiered pagoda rises to a height of 40.76 meters. The pagoda houses 87 buddha statues carved from white marble, 102 stone tablets, and 2,347 relief brick carvings. The intricate depictions of flowers, birds, mythical creatures, and diverse characters showcase a vivid and lifelike artistic expression. The artistry of the brick carvings, both in technique and creative design, is considered unparalleled in the Jingchu region. Wanshou Baota not only serves as a historical and cultural treasure but also provides a captivating display of artistic excellence, making it a must-visit attraction within Wanshou Garden.
Wanshou Garden is not very large; you can explore it in about half an hour if you don’t climb the pagoda. The riverside views are quite beautiful. If you decide to go up the pagoda, plan for about an hour and a half. The height is not significant, but the bluestone steps can be quite slippery when coming down.
Walking along the riverside, I arrived at the Wanshou Garden. The entrance to the garden is free, but there is a small fee of 10 yuan to access the Wanshou Pagoda. The architectural design of the pagoda is quite unique, with two levels: an inner layer that is not very spacious and an outer layer that contains stairs. Due to its tapered shape, each level decreases in size, and the top level can only accommodate seven or eight people. Each… Read more »
The Wanshou Garden is still closed, so we can only take a stroll along the riverbank.
Wan Shou Garden has been closed since September 4th. I could see from the wall that scaffolding has been set up around the tower. The security guard at the entrance said they are installing a lightning rod, but it’s unclear how long it will take to complete the work.
It’s great that the park doesn’t charge an entrance fee, but it closes a bit early at 5 PM.
I personally think that the Wan Shou Pagoda is definitely worth a visit; it’s probably the most impressive attraction of my trip to Jingzhou. The small opening on the pagoda allows you to see the large Buddha inside shimmering with golden light, although my phone photos turned out completely dark.
One can ascend to the top of the Wanshou Pagoda by following the narrow pathways inside the pagoda. Each level is adorned with Buddha statues, and through the wooden windows on the side, you can also enjoy a good view of the Yangtze River. The narrow stone steps inside the pagoda only allow for one person to pass through at a time. The Buddha statues carved on the brick walls on both sides, along with the information on donations made… Read more »
It’s great that the park doesn’t charge an entrance fee, and the architecture and scenery are also fantastic. It’s just a bit early that the park closes at 5 o’clock.
– No entrance fee, no reservation required.
– Tower admission ticket costs 10 yuan (but it seems that nobody checks the tickets).
– The tower is quite narrow and the stairs are steep. It’s not possible to climb to the top floor.
– The garden is relatively small and doesn’t require a lot of time to visit.
– You can see the Jingzhou Yangtze River Bridge from there.
The Yangtze River, with its danger in the Jing River. The Yangtze River winds through 16 big bends in the area of Jingzhou. Wanshou Park is located at the turning point in Shashi, Jingzhou. The Wanshou Pagoda, built during the Ming Dynasty, now has its base and bottom two floors below ground due to the yearly increasing flood dikes. The underground area below ground level also holds inscriptions of famous figures from various periods, making it known as the only… Read more »