Baoqing Hall

Baoqing Hall

Baoqing Hall, initially built during the Southern Song Dynasty, was reconstructed around 1362 during the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty. It originally served as an ancestral temple. During the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, Yao Kui, Minister of Personnel, donated funds to renovate the hall in gratitude for the kindness shown to him by his mother’s family, the Shentu clan of Dipu, aiming to preserve the noble virtues of their ancestors, uphold their moral integrity, celebrate the prosperity of the family and clan, and bless future generations—hence naming it “Baoqing Hall.”

After enduring centuries of wind and rain, Baoqing Hall had fallen into disrepair. In the Gengshen year of the Republic of China (1920), ancestors of the Shentu clan, Zhenhong and Shan Zheng, rallied the community to undertake a large-scale renovation of the hall, which took two years and three months. The newly restored Baoqing Hall consists of three halls: the front, middle, and rear. The front hall serves as the main entrance, equipped with seating; the middle hall functions as a stage; and the rear hall is divided into three levels, primarily used as audience seating. The entire structure is grand and majestic, featuring over 30 corbels (brackets) on its pillars, intricately carved with key figures and stories from the classic Chinese novel "Investiture of the Gods." There are also more than 400 other wooden carvings, all exquisitely detailed and lifelike. On the front curtain of the stage, a pair of dragon-head beams stand over two feet tall. When viewed from below, one sees a dragon and phoenix soaring through the sky—the phoenix above, the dragon below—surrounded by a flock of dancing peacocks displaying their vibrant colors, presenting a scene of peace, prosperity, and harmony. In earlier times, during traditional festivals, villagers would invite theater troupes to perform at Baoqing Hall for days on end, entertaining surrounding villages as well.

In 2010, as part of the “Beautiful Countryside” initiative, the village of Dipu invested 1 million yuan to comprehensively restore Baoqing Hall and improve the surrounding environment. Baoqing Hall has since become one of the new top ten scenic spots in historic Dipu.

Dipu Village: Located in Jiangnan Town, Tonglu County, Dipu Village sits in the eastern part of the town, separated by a stream from Changkou in Fuyang. The village comprises 16 villager groups, with a population of 2,335 and 697 households. Dipu Village boasts a long history and rich cultural heritage, and it is home to three provincial-level cultural heritage sites (the Shentu Ancestral Hall, Baoqing Hall, and Xianhe Hall). In 2006, it was designated as a Provincial Historical and Cultural Village, and in 2007, it was listed among the third batch of National Historical and Cultural Villages. The village covers a total area of 4,866 mu, including 1,144 mu of arable land, 3,664 mu of forested land, 58 mu of water bodies, and the residential built-up area (excluding... More details about Dipu Village++