Mao Zedong Poetry Pavilion

Mao Zedong Poetry Pavilion

The Mao Zedong Poetry Pavilion is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Mao Zedong Poetry Pavilion is located southeast of the South Tower, 206 meters southeast of Yellow Crane Tower and 90 meters southwest of Baiyun Pavilion.

Baiyun Pavilion on Snake Mountain

Mao Zedong seemed particularly fond of the "land of white clouds and yellow cranes." He visited Wuhan 36 times, climbed Snake Mountain numerous times, and swam in the Wuhan section of the Yangtze River 18 times. On June 1, 1956, Mao entered the water from the upper part of the former site of Yellow Crane Tower and swam in the Yangtze River for the first time. From June 3 to 4, he swam in the river twice more, composing his magnificent and passionate masterpiece. "Swimming" – "I swim the mighty Yangtze, gazing afar as the southern skies unfold. Let winds blow and waves beat, I feel no fear — it’s better than strolling in a courtyard. Today I’m carefree. As the sage once said by the river: ‘Thus flows all things away!’ Sails ply the waters, turtles and snakes lie still, a grand plan unfolds. A bridge flies across north and south, turning a chasm into a thoroughfare. We’ll build dams west of the river, cutting off Wu Mountain’s cloud and rain, revealing a calm lake in the deep gorge. The Goddess must be well — she’d marvel at the world’s great change."

The pavilion was built in 1992, facing south with a north orientation. It measures 6.6 meters in both length and width, and is 9.5 meters tall, featuring a four-cornered, double-eaved hip-and-gable roof with upturned eaves. At its center stands a large bluestone stele, 3.2 meters high and 1.8 meters wide. The front and back of the stele are inscribed with Mao Zedong’s calligraphy — "Pusa Man: Yellow Crane Tower," written in the spring of 1927 when he climbed Snake Mountain, and "Shuidiao Getou: Swimming," written after his swim in the Yangtze River in June 1956.

Address: Inside Yellow Crane Tower Park, No. 56 Minzhu Road