Ancient Shou Well

Ancient Shou Well

The Ancient Shou Well is a cultural relic protection unit of Ezhou City.

The Ancient Shou Well is a cultural relic protection unit of Ezhou City. Located at the intersection of Gulou Street and Shizijie Street in downtown Ezhou. Originally built during the Jiading era of the Southern Song Dynasty, it was donated and constructed by Zou Yingbo, the county magistrate’s assistant. It is commonly known as the "Four-Eyed Well" because the wellhead is fitted with four iron discs. On the day the well was completed, an auspicious blessing was left: “In the future, there will be those who attain high office, achieve scholarly honors, and enjoy long life.” Hence later generations also called it the "Longevity Well." During the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty, Dálǔgāqí Tieshan (also the builder of Guanyin Pavilion), the supervising magistrate, along with County Magistrate Wang Wenben, built the "Shou Well Pavilion" over the well. In the late Qing and early Republican period, the pavilion was destroyed due to warfare. The well was once one of the “Ten Scenic Spots of Ancient E’cheng.” However, after the introduction of running water, the Four-Eyed Well gradually fell into disuse and was buried under garbage and debris. The current “Four-Eyed Well” was excavated and restored in 2004 by the Ezhou Municipal People’s Government. Its unique “one well with four eyes” design reflects the outstanding creativity of ancient Chinese laborers.

To rescue and restore the Ancient Shou Well and protect cultural heritage, in December 2003, the municipal government allocated special funds for the emergency restoration and preservation of the well. The project was coordinated by the city’s Culture and Sports Bureau and Urban Management Bureau, and implemented by the City Museum and the Municipal Facilities Management Office. By April 2004, work including dredging the ancient well, reinstalling the four iron discs, and erecting a protective marker plaque had been completed. Now, the Ancient Shou Well has once again become a scenic attraction in Ezhou City.