佇立于鄂(e)州(zhou)市小(xiao)東(dong)(dong)門外大(da)堤(di)俯(fu)瞰長江(jiang)(jiang),可見一(yi)(yi)(yi)巨型礁(jiao)石(shi)(shi)屹立江(jiang)(jiang)心(xin),其(qi)勢(shi)蜿蜒如龍(long)(long),此即(ji)“龍(long)(long)蟠(pan)(pan)(pan)磯(ji)”。故(gu)又(you)(you)被譽為(wei)(wei)“萬里長江(jiang)(jiang)第(di)一(yi)(yi)(yi)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)”。湖北省鄂(e)州(zhou)市觀音閣(ge)(ge)(ge)長24 米,高(gao)14 米,以紅石(shi)(shi)青磚砌就,與龍(long)(long)蟠(pan)(pan)(pan)磯(ji)巧妙(miao)地(di)融為(wei)(wei)一(yi)(yi)(yi)體(ti),顯得雄峻(jun)巍峨(e),氣勢(shi)磅(bang)礴。千(qian)百年來,它飽經(jing)風霜,縱覽(lan)長江(jiang)(jiang)。每(mei)到汛(xun)潮,水(shui)漫(man)樓閣(ge)(ge)(ge),只剩(sheng)高(gao)層窗(chuang)口(kou),甚(shen)至(zhi)只剩(sheng)那檐牙、龍(long)(long)吻、中亭(ting)在(zai)浩淼(miao)長江(jiang)(jiang)水(shui)之(zhi)中。狂濤(tao)巨瀾曾使(shi)多(duo)少名樓華構(gou)席卷而去,然而,“中流砥柱有蟠(pan)(pan)(pan)龍(long)(long)”(清人官文詩(shi)句(ju)),汛(xun)期一(yi)(yi)(yi)過,水(shui)落石(shi)(shi)出(chu),它又(you)(you)橫空(kong)出(chu)世,威鎮江(jiang)(jiang)心(xin)。相(xiang)傳孫權定都武昌(今鄂(e)州(zhou))之(zhi)前,有黃(huang)龍(long)(long)蟠(pan)(pan)(pan)臥磯(ji)上,積日方去,因而又(you)(you)名“蟠(pan)(pan)(pan)龍(long)(long)石(shi)(shi)”。蟠(pan)(pan)(pan)龍(long)(long)石(shi)(shi)翹首西望(wang),周(zhou)身罩著一(yi)(yi)(yi)層氤氳煙氣,猶(you)如蜃(shen)景。而更為(wei)(wei)奇妙(miao)的(de)是(shi),一(yi)(yi)(yi)船形(xing)古閣(ge)(ge)(ge)突兀在(zai)龍(long)(long)首之(zhi)上,凌空(kong)虛懸(xuan),橫江(jiang)(jiang)而峙,這(zhe)便是(shi)令人嘆為(wei)(wei)觀止的(de)鄂(e)州(zhou)觀音閣(ge)(ge)(ge)。又(you)(you)稱龍(long)(long)蟠(pan)(pan)(pan)磯(ji)寺,2006年被列為(wei)(wei)第(di)六批(pi)全國重(zhong)點(dian)文物保護(hu)單位。觀音閣(ge)(ge)(ge)始建(jian)于宋,元至(zhi)正五(wu)年(1345年)重(zhong)建(jian),明清多(duo)次重(zhong)修(xiu)。閣(ge)(ge)(ge)坐(zuo)東(dong)(dong)朝西,在(zai)礁(jiao)石(shi)(shi)上壘石(shi)(shi)成(cheng)臺(tai),臺(tai)上建(jian)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)。現有祖師殿、觀音殿和(he)老(lao)君殿三殿以及純陽樓、觀瀾亭(ting)等建(jian)筑(zhu)。萬里長江(jiang)(jiang),險稱天塹,上起巴蜀(shu),下至(zhi)吳淞(song),唯鄂(e)州(zhou)觀音閣(ge)(ge)(ge)雄踞磯(ji)頭,宛如中流砥柱,氣勢(shi)磅(bang)礴。故(gu)又(you)(you)被譽為(wei)(wei)“萬里長江(jiang)(jiang)第(di)一(yi)(yi)(yi)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)”。
閣(ge)身正(zheng)壁(bi)鐫有”觀音閣(ge)”三個遒勁(jing)的(de)大字。進(jin)閣(ge)正(zheng)門石碑上(shang)刻的(de)“龍蟠曉渡”四字,出自清(qing)代官文手筆。
閣內(nei)自西向東,分別是觀瀾(lan)(lan)亭、東方朔殿、觀音殿、老(lao)君殿和純陽樓。觀瀾(lan)(lan)亭上(shang),俯瞰江流,勝景(jing)憂宏;三重(zhong)殿里(li),仰瞻前(qian)賢,文章彪(biao)炳。純陽樓上(shang)呂洞(dong)賓正酣(han)燃大睡,游(you)人至此,莫(mo)不止步(bu)屏息(xi),會心一笑:如此蓬萊仙境,獨(du)此公(gong)得其(qi)所哉(zai)?
觀音閣(ge)下半部那如(ru)同船舷樣的弧(hu)形石,既(ji)減(jian)緩(huan)水勢,又順勢泄流,任憑江(jiang)水拍擊(ji)咆哮,總是穩于泰山。古(gu)代鄂州工匠對(dui)流體力(li)學(xue)的奇妙運用和那風(feng)格獨特的造(zao)型藝術,使多少建筑專家駐(zhu)足留連,贊嘆不已。石墻上的幾棵古(gu)樹,原(yuan)已枯萎縮多年,近年竟(jing)死(si)而復生,正舒展著嫩牙(ya)初吐的新枝,擁抱春(chun)的到來。閣(ge)中的那一口老(lao)井,自古(gu)水清見底,水位要高出江(jiang)水數尺,令人稱奇。這老(lao)井、古(gu)樹和神鱉(bie)眼,被稱作觀音閣(ge)“三趣”。