A Thousand Years of Ancient Charm: Gongcheng Ancient Architecture Complex

Return to Bagui No. 1⃣5⃣: Guilin, Gongcheng Ancient Architecture Complex Gongcheng Ancient Architecture Complex: A Cultural Treasure Through the Ages Gongcheng Ancient Architecture Complex is located in Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County, Guilin, Guangxi. It is an outstanding example of Lingnan architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Centered around the "Three Temples and One Hall" (Wen Temple, Wu Temple, Zhou Wei Temple, and Hunan Guild Hall), it showcases the cultural essence of ancient "literature, martial arts, officials, and commerce" and is known as the "Little Qufu of South China." 🏯Name: Gongcheng Ancient Architecture Complex (Three Temples and One Hall) 📌Address: Gongcheng Street and Taihe Street, Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County, Guilin 🏛Cultural Heritage Level: 6th Batch of National Heritage Sites in 2006 🎫Admission: Combo ticket CNY 40 (tickets for the Three Temples and One Hall can be purchased separately) ✔️Wen Temple: The Holy Land of Lingnan Confucianism Wen Temple was built in the 8th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming dynasty (1410). After several relocations and reconstructions, the existing buildings cover an area of 3,600 square meters, making it the largest and best-preserved Wen Temple in Guangxi. The main hall, Dacheng Hall, features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof covered with yellow glazed tiles. The wooden carved doors and windows and the upturned eaves showcase the characteristics of Lingnan architecture. The hall enshrines Confucius, and the layout of Lingxing Gate, Pan Pond, and Zhuangyuan Bridge is rigorous. It was a holy place for ancient scholars to study and take imperial examinations, and the cultural atmosphere of valuing literature and education can still be felt today. The intricate and exquisite roof decorations of Dacheng Hall are worth seeing! They remind me of the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall in Guangzhou and the Foshan Ancestral Temple. Although smaller in scale, they are equally impressive. ✔️Wu Temple: The Inheritance of Loyalty and Righteousness Wu Temple (Guan Di Temple), located across the street from Wen Temple, was built in the 31st year of the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty (1603) and enshrines Guan Yu, a famous general of the Three Kingdoms period. It is the most magnificent Wu Temple in Guangxi. Its theater stage is particularly famous, with an octagonal caisson ceiling resembling an inverted bell. The wooden beam structure and glazed tile hip-and-gable roof demonstrate exquisite craftsmanship. The stage has hosted countless operas and is still a venue for traditional folk activities, conveying the values of loyalty, courage, benevolence, and righteousness. ✔️Zhou Wei Temple: A Symbol of Integrity Zhou Wei Temple was built in the 14th year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming dynasty (1478) to commemorate Zhou Wei, a Censor of the Northern Song dynasty. The temple's gate tower features intricate and exquisite wood carvings, famous for patterns such as "Liu Hai Playing with a Toad" and "Five Sparrows Playing with Plum Blossoms," showcasing the high level of Ming and Qing carving art. This temple is not only a commemoration of historical figures but also embodies the Gongcheng people's admiration for integrity and uprightness. ✔️Hunan Guild Hall: The Integration of Commerce and Culture Hunan Guild Hall was built in the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing dynasty (1872) with funds raised by Hunan merchants. It is known as the "Flower of Hunan Guild Halls." Its gate tower features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, with ridge decorations of vases and ao fish. The theater stage's wooden and stone structure is exquisite, and the caisson paintings and relief sculptures of stories are highly ornamental. The guild hall witnessed the prosperity of the Hunan-Guangxi trade route during the Ming and Qing dynasties and now serves as a cultural performance venue, continuing the vitality of commerce and folk customs. Gongcheng Ancient Architecture Complex is not only an art of brick and wood structures but also a microcosm of the diverse coexistence of Chinese culture. From the elegance of Wen Temple to the fortitude of Wu Temple, from the integrity of Zhou Wei Temple to the openness of Hunan Guild Hall, it embodies the wisdom and spirit of our ancestors. They not only inherit history but also inspire the future. Protecting them is both a tribute to the past and a responsibility for the continuation of civilization.