Huanggulin Ancient Architectural Complex

Huanggulin Ancient Architectural Complex

The Huanggulin Ancient Architectural Complex is located in Gulin Village, Gulin Town, Yinzhou District, and was designated as a district-level cultural heritage site on May 28, 1986.

Gulin Town is situated at the heart of the western plain of Yinzhou and has historically been an important political, economic, and cultural center. The surrounding area features many historical relics, among which the Zishanguan Street Stage Pavilion, the stone carvings of the Nine Lions on Jiushi Bridge, and the Five Ports Bridge at Wugangkou—all ancient structures with long histories, grand architecture, and exquisite craftsmanship—are collectively known as the “Huanggulin Ancient Architectural Complex.”

The Street Stage Pavilion is located at the west end of South Street in Gulin Town and was built during the Qing Dynasty. It is a single-eave hip-and-gable roof structure. The pavilion is supported by square chamfered stone pillars at its four corners, with a base that is 4.2 meters wide from east to west and 4.8 meters deep from north to south. The middle and lower parts of the stone pillars are carved with mortises to hold the stage planks. The tops of the pillars are connected by horizontal beams, with five brackets on each side supporting the eaves. The caisson ceiling is built up using layered brackets, with a copper mirror installed at the center. The surrounding canopy is tent-shaped. The roof is covered with cylindrical tiles, the eaves have drip tiles, and the ridge ends are adorned with dragon-headed fish-tailed ornaments, their mouths open and tails raised, giving an imposing appearance. The front eaves have upturned corners, while the rear eaves connect to the Zishanguan, making it an auxiliary structure of the temple. It is recorded that in the past, during the birthday celebrations of the deities in the temple, opera troupes were invited to perform, and audiences could enjoy the shows from both sides of the street or from boats on the river. This stage pavilion holds significant value for the study of architectural design and local customs of the time.

The Five Ports Bridge is located at the west end of North Street in Huanggulin, Gulin Town, spanning the confluence of five waterways, hence its name. This bridge is a three-arch stone structure. It stands 4.25 meters high, is 20.6 meters long, and 2.1 meters wide, with 18 steps at each end. The bridge railings on both sides are shaped like chair backs to allow pedestrians to rest against them. At the ends of the railings are stone-carved lions in crouching poses, each with unique expressions. The three bridge arches vary in width: the central arch is 5.9 meters wide, while the two side arches are each 3.8 meters wide. A pair of dragon heads extends from each side of the north and south, with connecting pillars beneath them inscribed with poetic couplets. The central arch is topped with a horizontal plaque inscribed with the bold characters “Five Ports Bridge,” and the side inscription reads “Reconstructed by Local Residents in the Eighth Year of the Tongzhi Reign.” This bridge is simple yet majestic, with a uniquely designed form that reflects the distinctive characteristics of the water towns in eastern Zhejiang.

The Nine Lions Bridge spans the Gulin River. To its northeast is the Zishanguan Street Stage Pavilion, and to its southwest is the Five Ports Bridge. It is named “Nine Lions Bridge” because the four pillars on its railing are adorned with nine lions, and it is commonly referred to as the “Huanggulin Bridge.” According to the county annals, it was “rebuilt in the Fifty-Second Year of the Qianlong Reign.” The nine lions on the bridge are uniquely shaped and strikingly lifelike. Two are female lions in crouching positions, each with five small lions in various poses—such as lying on their backs, dragging tails, coiling around waists, raising heads, or hugging feet—carved on them. Due to the passage of time, the carved details have become somewhat worn, but the meticulous craftsmanship still allows the expressions of the nine lions to be clearly distinguished.