At the base of Mount Xiushan, where the ancient town of Tonghai meets the forested slopes, stands the Wanshou Palace. Built in 1753 during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, this timber-frame compound serves as the gateway to a mountain long revered by Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian scholars. Today, it houses the Tonghai County Museum, offering visitors a quiet space to examine the region's history before ascending the peaks above.

The architecture of Wanshou Palace reflects the distinct regional style of southern Yunnan during the Qing dynasty. Arranged along a central axis, the building unfolds through a series of courtyards, moving from the front hall to the middle and main halls, flanked by symmetrical side wings. Sweeping eaves and detailed wooden carvings draw the eye upward, while the layout itself mirrors the gradual incline of the mountain. The structure was designed to harmonize with the natural topography, grounding the monumental scale of classical Chinese architecture within the local landscape.

Inside these historic halls, the museum preserves over 4,000 artifacts, including centuries-old calligraphy, paintings, bronzes, and porcelain. Walking through the courtyards, visitors experience a dual encounter with history. The building itself tells the story of dynastic craftsmanship and architectural endurance, having survived centuries of change to become a protected national heritage site. Meanwhile, the objects displayed within its rooms provide a direct link to the daily lives and artistic achievements of the people who once inhabited this region.

The Wanshou Palace anchors the broader Xiushan Ancient Architectural Complex. It invites you to pause and absorb the cultural foundations of Tonghai before you continue upward into the terraced temples and shaded pavilions that define the higher reaches of the mountain.