Wanshou Tower is located on the top of Baogai Mountain 20 kilometers southeast of Quanzhou City. It is the commanding height of the Quanzhou Bay estuary and can clearly overlook Quanzhou Bay and Shenhu Bay. Local people prefer to call it "aunt's tower". Because it is not only a landmark for merchant ships arriving at Quanzhou Port, but also a spiritual sustenance to guard Haikou and protect business travelers. Its legend of praying for a husband to become a stone also carries the Quanzhou people’s historical memory of maritime trade.
Legend has it that a long time ago, there was a drought in southern Fujian and no crops were harvested. A young man named Haisheng was forced to say goodbye to his newlywed wife and beloved sister, and traveled to Southeast Asia, agreeing to meet back in three years. For three years, the sister-in-law and her sister climbed up to the Wanshou Pagoda every day, looked out at the sea in the distance, and looked forward to the safe return of their relatives. But on his way back to Quanzhou Port by boat, Haisheng encountered strong winds and waves, and the boat was destroyed and everyone died. The poor aunt and sister-in-law were still standing on the Wanshou Pagoda. They became ill due to long-term thoughts and both passed away. In order to commemorate this poignant story, later generations called the Wanshou Pagoda the "Sister-in-law Pagoda" and hoped that this pagoda, which was gazed at with life, would become a navigation tower for overseas travelers to return home.
People engaged in navigation and business in Quanzhou also regard the Wanshou Tower as a symbol of their hometown. The navigation beacon function of Wanshou Tower has also been continued in the past dynasties. The "Zheng He's Voyage Chart" included in "Wu Bei Zhi" of the Ming Dynasty contains the icon of "Wanshou Pagoda", which is a historical record of the Wanshou Pagoda serving as a beacon tower for the return voyage of Zheng He's voyages to the West.
Today's Quanzhou Port has complete facilities and developed shipping. With the help of modern technology and equipment, ships no longer need to worry about getting lost. But the Wanshou Tower standing on the top of Baogai Mountain is still an eternal beacon in the hearts of people living overseas.
Editor in charge: [Luo Pan]