Gao Ping Crane Cry Mountain Tourist Scenic Area

Gao Ping Crane Cry Mountain Tourist Scenic Area

Gao Ping Crane Cry Mountain Tourist Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Crane Cry Mountain is located in Gao Ping District, Nanchong City. It is an urban comprehensive park situated across the river from the city center and connected by a single bridge. The scenic area centers around the White Pagoda of the Song Dynasty, a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit. Commonly known as the "Song Dynasty White Pagoda," it was originally named the "Boundless Treasure Pagoda" and was built during the Jianlong era of the Northern Song Dynasty (960 AD), making it over a thousand years old.

The pagoda stands 39.56 meters tall (or 37.1 meters) and is a thirteen-story, imitation-wooden, closely-eaved brick pagoda with a square base. Its unique design and exquisite craftsmanship give it significant historical, artistic, and cultural value. As one of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Chongcheng," it is now a Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Unit. The pagoda is a pavilion-style brick structure with a stone base shaped like a Sumeru pedestal, adorned with carvings of dragons and qilin along its perimeter. The pagoda has thirteen levels; the first level features an arched gate for entry and exit. Levels one through ten each contain small niches, with a total of ninety-three niches housing individual deity statues. There are ten doors and nine windows. The entire exterior of the pagoda is coated with white lime, while the columns, brackets, and dougong (bracket arms) are painted with earth-yellow dye, making them particularly vivid under sunlight. The top of the pagoda is fitted with an iron, millstone-like component that is hollow inside. This design not only helps prevent lightning strikes but also allows people to climb to the top from the outside to enjoy panoramic views of Nanchong’s urban landscape. “Climbing to the top, one overlooks a thousand peaks in their splendor; the tolling of the bell drifts into the clouds.” It is yet another iconic sight of Nanchong.

Over time, Crane Cry Mountain, weathered by years of wind and rain, has seen its scale and recreational facilities struggle to meet the needs of visitors. To expand this cultural site and better serve public demand, following the completion of the first phase of renovation, Gao Ping District recently organized experts to meticulously design the expansion blueprint for the second phase of the Crane Cry Mountain project. According to the plan, the mountain area will be tripled in size on its current foundation, aiming to create a landscape architecture in the Han Dynasty style. It will feature five major recreational scenic zones and ultimately become one of the most beautiful parks in Nanchong.

With its long history, Crane Cry Mountain has grown alongside many local residents, and some hold a special emotional attachment to the park. Standing at the highest point of the scenic area to take in the grand urban vista, or admiring the thousand-year-old White Pagoda, ancient wells, ponds, and the Tomb of Wang Ping, have become favorite pastimes for many locals. As such, the “upgrade” of Crane Cry Mountain has garnered much attention, with great curiosity and anticipation for the expansion of the White Pagoda Park. Interestingly, several cultural relics here, including the White Pagoda, are surrounded by legendary tales. It is said that the pagoda was built by the master craftsman Lu Ban, who once raced his apprentice to construct a white and a black pagoda—the one completed faster would win. Hence, the White Pagoda came into being. The ancient well pond and Tomb of Wang Ping within Crane Cry Mountain are also quite distinctive. The ancient well, dug during the Northern Song Dynasty, offers sweet-tasting water that remains cool in summer and warm in winter, with a seemingly endless supply. Adjacent to the well lies a pond that remains rippling year-round. Legend has it that it is home to a thousand-year-old tortoise and a hundred-year-old koi. Meanwhile, although the tomb of Wang Ping, a general of the Shu Han Kingdom, was rebuilt later, its legendary background continues to attract many visitors.

Elders recall that Crane Cry Mountain once had an elegant environment. Initially, the White Pagoda was open to the public, allowing visitors to climb up and take photos—it was especially fun. Later, due to concerns about potential damage to the structure, authorities prohibited public access. Whenever the morning breeze swayed the pagoda, the sound of the “Morning Bell of the White Pagoda” would resonate far and wide, creating a serene and uplifting atmosphere.