North Second Lan Ancestral Hall

North Second Lan Ancestral Hall

The North Second Lan Ancestral Hall is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Era: Qing Dynasty

Address: Beier Village, Hangbu Town, Kecheng District, Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province

This ancestral hall is the most well-preserved She ethnic ancestral hall in Zhejiang Province. Built during the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (1628), it covers an area of 650 square meters, featuring exquisite craftsmanship and a rational layout. The rear hall was renovated in the 14th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty, and further repairs were carried out in the 7th year of the Xianfeng reign.

It was designated as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit in 1998, and underwent comprehensive maintenance in 2006. The structure is a three-bay, three-courtyard brick-and-wood building with two inner courtyards. Along the central axis from south to north are the gate tower, front hall, courtyard and side rooms, main hall, courtyard and side rooms, and rear building. The construction is exquisitely crafted—the gate tower features a rolled shed roof, triple-eaved hip-and-gable roof, while the front hall’s central bay includes a stage, the side bays have two-story corridor towers, and the stage is crowned with a caisson ceiling under a hip-and-gable roof. The middle hall’s central bay has a four-pillar lifting-beam structure, the side bays use a five-pillar piercing-style structure, and a rolled shed is set at the front, followed by a double-step frame at the back. A plaque inscribed with “Zhongyu Hall” hangs in the middle hall. The rear hall houses the Taigong Hall with a lifting-beam roof structure. The entire building uses robust materials, with ornate beams and painted rafters, layered hat beams, and extremely fine carvings. It holds significant cultural heritage value.

In May 2013, it was listed in the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units. Out-of-town visitors must present an introduction letter to be allowed entry into the ancestral hall; otherwise, visits are not permitted.

Beier Village: Beier Village is an administrative village under the jurisdiction of Hangbu Town, located on the western edge of Hangbu Town and on the southern bank of the Changshan River. The village is about 5 kilometers from the town center of Hangbu, mainly accessible via National Highway 320 on the south side of the village. To the west, it connects closely with Bei’er Village (North First), and to the east it neighbors Dianqian Village. To the north, it faces the river (Changshan River), across which lies the Kong family settlement in Gouxia Township, while to the southwest it borders Zhaoxian Town in Changshan County.

The administrative area of Beier Village includes only one residential point—Beier Village itself—and no other natural villages.

Beier Village has 451 households and a population of 1,468, including She ethnic residents with the surname Lan... More details about Beier Village++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units