The Bao Family Ancestral Hall

The Bao Family Ancestral Hall

The Bao Family Ancestral Hall is a cultural heritage site protected by Anhui Province.

The Bao Family Ancestral Hall is located in Dabao Village, Jiejixiang Township, Feidong County, Hefei, Anhui Province.

It is the family ancestral hall of Bao Zheng, a renowned statesman of the Northern Song Dynasty, and lies just 2 kilometers south of Xiaolimang Village (formerly known as Xiaobao Village), where Bao Zheng was born. Originally built during the Song Dynasty, the current structure dates back to the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (1875–1908). Nestled among rolling hills, the hall enjoys picturesque surroundings. Interestingly, while most ancestral halls face south, this one uniquely faces north. Legend has it that Bao Zheng, having punished corrupt officials and thus incurred the wrath of powerful courtiers, faced repeated slander from them, who accused him of treason. To demonstrate his unwavering loyalty, Bao Zheng had the ancestral hall’s main gate face north, symbolizing “my descendants will never turn their backs to the south.” The existing ancestral hall consists of four courtyards, built with blue bricks and small tiles. The central hall displays the Bao Family Genealogy, the Collected Writings of Bao Xiaosu, and a portrait of Bao Zheng. There are also many legends and historical relics related to Bao Zheng in the vicinity of the hall.