In 1996, the Thai businessman Sondhi, president of the M Group, chose a quiet spot on the east bank of Lijiang's Black Dragon Pool to build a monument of wood and gratitude. He timed the construction to coincide with the opening of his Grand Hotel and his mother’s eightieth birthday. He named the structure the Wanshou Pavilion, or the Pavilion of Longevity, invoking a regional blessing: may her life match the endurance of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and her happiness flow like the Jinsha River.

The pavilion stands at the foot of Elephant Hill, built directly over the water's edge. It is an open, airy wooden structure, surrounded by a dense grove of green bamboo and pine trees. Visitors walking through the park—which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Old Town of Lijiang—encounter the scent of fresh pine and the soft sound of water lapping against the timber foundation. Inside, the wooden panels display painted illustrations of the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars, a classical tribute to parental devotion.

From the pavilion's edge, the view opens across the clear spring water. The Five-Arch Bridge and the rising tiers of the Deyue Tower frame the horizon. On clear mornings, photographers gather here to capture the reflection of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain mirrored on the pool's surface. Today, the pavilion hosts a quiet coffee shop. Visitors sit on the terrace, holding warm cups of coffee, feeling the mountain breeze, and watching schools of colorful fish swim through the shadows of the wooden pillars.