Shibaozhai in Zhong County, China
Chinese mythology tells of how the goddess Nuwa mended the sky using five-colored stones after it suddenly collapsed. According to legend, the hill of Shibaozhai ("Precious Stone Fortress") was originally one of those stones accidentally dropped by Nuwa. As such, this hill has been a sacred place of worship for centuries. Originally only accessed by being lifted up on chains, a twelve-story pagoda was constructed in the 18th century. The vermillion structure currently seen today dates from the early 19th century. At 56 meters tall, it is among the tallest wooden pagodas in China, yet was built without a single nail.
After ascending the pagoda, visitors come to the significantly older Emperor's Palace. Here various gods of the Chinese pantheon are housed, including the Jade Emperor, Four Heavenly Kings, and the general Guan Yu.
Regarded as one of the most important heritage sites in the region, Shibaozhai was almost due to be partially submerged by the Three Gorges Dam reservoir. Thankfully, a cofferdam was built to protect the pagoda from flooding. Regardless, the construction of the dam has dramatically changed the landscape from a deep river valley to a much wider lake fit for cruise traffic.
