佇立(li)于(yu)(yu)鄂州(zhou)市小(xiao)東(dong)門(men)外大堤俯瞰長(chang)(chang)江(jiang)(jiang),可見一(yi)巨型礁石(shi)屹立(li)江(jiang)(jiang)心,其(qi)勢蜿蜒如(ru)龍(long)(long),此即“龍(long)(long)蟠磯(ji)”。故(gu)又被譽為(wei)(wei)(wei)“萬里(li)長(chang)(chang)江(jiang)(jiang)第(di)一(yi)閣(ge)”。湖北省鄂州(zhou)市觀音閣(ge)長(chang)(chang)24 米(mi),高(gao)14 米(mi),以紅石(shi)青磚(zhuan)砌就,與龍(long)(long)蟠磯(ji)巧妙地融(rong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)一(yi)體,顯得雄峻巍峨,氣勢磅礴。千百年來(lai),它飽經(jing)風霜,縱覽長(chang)(chang)江(jiang)(jiang)。每到汛潮(chao),水漫樓閣(ge),只剩高(gao)層窗口,甚至(zhi)只剩那檐牙、龍(long)(long)吻、中(zhong)亭在(zai)浩淼長(chang)(chang)江(jiang)(jiang)水之(zhi)中(zhong)。狂濤巨瀾曾使多少名樓華(hua)構席卷而(er)去(qu),然而(er),“中(zhong)流(liu)砥柱有(you)(you)蟠龍(long)(long)”(清人官文(wen)詩(shi)句(ju)),汛期一(yi)過,水落(luo)石(shi)出,它又橫空(kong)出世(shi),威鎮江(jiang)(jiang)心。相傳孫權(quan)定都武(wu)昌(今鄂州(zhou))之(zhi)前,有(you)(you)黃(huang)龍(long)(long)蟠臥磯(ji)上(shang)(shang),積日(ri)方去(qu),因而(er)又名“蟠龍(long)(long)石(shi)”。蟠龍(long)(long)石(shi)翹首(shou)西望,周身罩著(zhu)一(yi)層氤氳煙氣,猶如(ru)蜃景。而(er)更為(wei)(wei)(wei)奇妙的是,一(yi)船(chuan)形古閣(ge)突兀在(zai)龍(long)(long)首(shou)之(zhi)上(shang)(shang),凌空(kong)虛(xu)懸,橫江(jiang)(jiang)而(er)峙,這便是令人嘆為(wei)(wei)(wei)觀止的鄂州(zhou)觀音閣(ge)。又稱(cheng)龍(long)(long)蟠磯(ji)寺(si),2006年被列為(wei)(wei)(wei)第(di)六批全國重點文(wen)物(wu)保護單(dan)位。觀音閣(ge)始建(jian)于(yu)(yu)宋,元(yuan)至(zhi)正五年(1345年)重建(jian),明清多次重修。閣(ge)坐東(dong)朝(chao)西,在(zai)礁石(shi)上(shang)(shang)壘石(shi)成(cheng)臺(tai),臺(tai)上(shang)(shang)建(jian)閣(ge)。現(xian)有(you)(you)祖師(shi)殿(dian)(dian)、觀音殿(dian)(dian)和老君殿(dian)(dian)三殿(dian)(dian)以及純(chun)陽樓、觀瀾亭等(deng)建(jian)筑。萬里(li)長(chang)(chang)江(jiang)(jiang),險稱(cheng)天塹,上(shang)(shang)起巴蜀,下至(zhi)吳淞,唯(wei)鄂州(zhou)觀音閣(ge)雄踞(ju)磯(ji)頭,宛(wan)如(ru)中(zhong)流(liu)砥柱,氣勢磅礴。故(gu)又被譽為(wei)(wei)(wei)“萬里(li)長(chang)(chang)江(jiang)(jiang)第(di)一(yi)閣(ge)”。
閣身正壁鐫(juan)有(you)”觀音閣”三個(ge)遒(qiu)勁的(de)大字(zi)。進閣正門(men)石碑上刻的(de)“龍蟠(pan)曉渡”四(si)字(zi),出(chu)自清代(dai)官文手筆。
閣內自(zi)西向東(dong)(dong),分別是觀(guan)瀾亭、東(dong)(dong)方朔殿、觀(guan)音殿、老君殿和純陽樓。觀(guan)瀾亭上(shang),俯瞰江流,勝景憂(you)宏;三重殿里,仰瞻前賢,文章彪(biao)炳。純陽樓上(shang)呂洞賓正酣(han)燃大(da)睡(shui),游人至(zhi)此(ci),莫不止步屏息,會心一笑:如此(ci)蓬萊仙境,獨此(ci)公得(de)其所哉?
觀音閣下(xia)半部那如(ru)同船舷樣的(de)(de)弧形(xing)石(shi)(shi),既減緩(huan)水勢,又順勢泄流,任憑江水拍(pai)擊咆(pao)哮,總是(shi)穩(wen)于泰山。古(gu)(gu)代鄂(e)州工匠對流體力學的(de)(de)奇妙運用和(he)那風格獨特的(de)(de)造(zao)型藝(yi)術,使多(duo)少建筑專家駐足(zu)留連,贊(zan)嘆不已。石(shi)(shi)墻上的(de)(de)幾棵古(gu)(gu)樹(shu),原已枯萎縮多(duo)年(nian),近年(nian)竟(jing)死(si)而復生,正舒展著嫩牙初吐的(de)(de)新枝(zhi),擁抱春的(de)(de)到來。閣中的(de)(de)那一口老井,自古(gu)(gu)水清(qing)見(jian)底,水位要高出江水數尺,令(ling)人(ren)稱奇。這老井、古(gu)(gu)樹(shu)和(he)神鱉眼,被稱作觀音閣“三趣”。