Li Clan Ancestral Hall in Yi County

Li Clan Ancestral Hall in Yi County

The Li Clan Ancestral Hall in Yi County is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Li Clan Ancestral Hall stands in Yi Village, Yi County, covering an area of over 1,200 square meters. It is a family ancestral temple building originally constructed during the Ming Dynasty, serving as a place for the Li family to worship their ancestors and esteemed figures. It was renovated during the Qing Dynasty. The entire hall features a rigorous structure, majestic presence, and ingenious layout, showcasing the superb level of ancient Chinese residential architectural planning and design.

There is a small courtyard outside; upon entering, you’ll find the main gate, which is a round arched door. Beyond the arch is a large courtyard, in the center of which the ground is inlaid with a huge geomantic bagua diagram made of crushed stones—a truly unique sight. Climbing a few steps leads you to a 20-meter-long and 8-meter-wide platform, entirely paved with “Yi County Blue” stone. Two more steps up is the ancestral hall’s gate tower, featuring upturned eaves and flying rafters, with carved stone statues of mythical creatures such as dragons, phoenixes, and qilins on the roof ridge, all remarkably lifelike. Inside the hall, twelve towering round wooden pillars reach to the ceiling, and twelve screen doors are neatly aligned—an unusual feature rare among ancient ancestral halls in Yi County. Being inside feels like stepping back in time, with fresh traces of moss at the base of the walls showing a faint green, like imprints of the passage of time. Through the courtyard’s skylight shines the same ancient sky.

With a long and storied history, it wakes with countless dawns and quiets with countless dusks. In this simple and tranquil village, it stands like an old man weathered by time, observing everything about future generations and silently blessing them. This is the ancient architecture that the hardworking people of Yi Village are most proud of.