Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway

Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway

The Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway

Built in 1578 and renovated during the Qianlong and Xianfeng reigns of the Qing Dynasty, the archway’s base covers an area of 100 square meters. It stands 12.3 meters tall and 9.95 meters wide, featuring a single-unit, wood-like structure with four pillars, three bays, and five stories. The entire structure is made from solid and finely textured "Yi County bluestone." The archway is supported by four 60-centimeter-square chamfered stone pillars as its main columns, adorned with carved diamond patterns. Below the pillars are four rectangular plinths, each 1.6 meters high, 2.8 meters long, and 80 centimeters wide. The middle two pillars are flanked by two pairs of 2.5-meter-tall inverted crouching stone lions—serving as column supports—that are exquisitely crafted, majestic, and lifelike. The first floor’s broad beam is sturdy and carved with intricate relief designs, elegant and quaint in style. Stone arches support the connection between the pillars and beams, with carved lattice windows inset on both sides. The central horizontal beam on the first floor is inscribed with the words: “Hu Wenguang, appointed as Imperial Court Doctor and Civil Official in the Jiajing Ji Mao Year.” On the second floor, the western side features the bold, double-hook regular script characters “Jiaozhou Prefect,” while the eastern side reads “Prime Minister of Jing Commandery,” both powerful and vigorous in style. Along the central axis of the third floor are the two characters “En Rong” (Imperial Favor), flanked by coiling dragon reliefs. From the second to the fourth floor, the left and right sides as well as the ends are adorned with upturned eaves and horn-like corners, with ridge heads crowned by mythical ao fish ornaments. Under the eaves, the bracket sets are decorated with 44 circular openwork floral wings. The east and west faces of the four stone pillars feature a total of 12 perforated panels supporting 12 sculpted figures, including the Eight Immortals and historical civil and military officials, all exquisitely crafted. It is now a key cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.