One of China’s Seven Wonders, Yet Overlooked and Unvisited: What’s the Reason?
Lead: One of China's Seven Wonders, yet overlooked and rarely visited
Across China's vast land, countless beautiful scenic spots have gained high recognition, attracting many foreign tourists. However, recognition takes time to accumulate and mature. Many lesser-known Chinese attractions are often ignored, which is something we should reflect on. In recent years, many foreign travelers have been drawn to China's culture, traveling thousands of miles to explore this unknown area, discovering many places that Chinese people themselves had overlooked.
Do you remember seeing a program abroad that explored China and ranked China's Seven Wonders? Surprisingly, Shibaoshan was on the list. If it weren't for the show, we ourselves wouldn't even know that there was such a place in Chongqing. It was rated as one of the Seven Wonders by foreign media. Later, it gradually gained popularity abroad. This is probably the only attraction that gained popularity in the foreign world before returning to China. I also went there myself, which was truly amazing. I always feel that there are more attractions waiting to be discovered.
Shibaoshan is a very ancient building. Its name is quite magical. According to legend, when Nüwa was mending the sky, a five-colored stone fell into the Yangtze River. After that, a ten-meter-high rock stood by the riverbank. The locals regarded it as a treasure, so it became known as Shibaoshan. In the late Ming Dynasty, Tan Hong used it as a base. Later, it became Shibaoshan because it was located near the Yangtze River, so it was also known as 'Yangtze Pearl.' Because it has been continuously maintained for a long time, it has preserved its original appearance.
During the Qing Dynasty, a temple was built on the top of the mountain. To break the traditional method of using ropes to climb, they built a nine-story tower for auspicious purposes. As you climb up the tower, it's both convenient and safe. After continuous strengthening and construction, the tower has reached twelve stories. Standing on the tower, overlooking the Yangtze River, it's truly a 'Little Paradise' as seen by everyone. If there is fog, it really looks like a fairyland.
The greatest honor of this ancient village was that its appearance appeared on the currency of the Republic of China. It is indeed a key cultural relic. However, the village has also suffered damage. In the early 2000s, to rescue it, a large dike was built around it. This did not affect tourists to appreciate it. The ticket price here is very cheap, only 50 yuan. I think spending a few tens of yuan to climb to the top of the tower and see the magnificent Yangtze River is also a good choice.
