The Qibi Hall Ancient Architectural Complex

The Qibi Hall Ancient Architectural Complex

The Qibi Hall Ancient Architectural Complex is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Qibi Hall Ancient Architectural Complex is located in Quancheng Road Subdistrict, Lixia District, Jinan City. It dates back to the Qing Dynasty. In 2013, it was designated as part of the fourth batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units by the People's Government of Shandong Province.

Qibi Hall is part of the Shengyang Temple. Located south of Shoukanglou Street in Jinan’s old city area, the Shengyang Temple complex covers an area of 3,750 square meters. Originally built in the 18th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1679), it was a temple dedicated to Lü Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals in Chinese mythology, and is also known as the Lüzu Temple. Legend has it that one day after the temple was completed, the resident Taoist priest Liu Daojiang clearly saw a Taoist enter the temple, but no one could be found despite an extensive search. Instead, a newly inscribed poem was discovered on the left wall of the main hall: “Was it truly that old tavern of yore, where pines and waters lay in tranquil score? The warm breeze lifts me to Penglai Isle each day, my cane oft strolls these grounds on display. Worldly laws from the self must first be known, the truth within the heart alone is shown. Where green grass sways in harmony’s embrace, why waste life chasing a hollow face?” The poem was signed “Wood-and-Stone Taoist,” and worshippers believed it to be a message left by Lü Dongbin in disguise.

Over a hundred years later, by the eighth year of the Jiaqing reign (1803), the writing on the wall had become blurred. To preserve it, later generations transcribed and engraved it onto a stone stele. In the same year, when constructing a hall east of the Lüzu Temple, it was named “Qibi Hall.” In the 31st year of the Guangxu reign (1905), the hall was expanded with donations from individuals including Zhang Jingtang. This is currently one of the more intact groups of Qing Dynasty ancient buildings remaining in the old city. Back then, “Qibi Hall” was very lively. Historical records indicate that Liang Qichao once gave a speech here during the late Qing Dynasty. Local folklore also claims that Sun Yat-sen once met with members of the Kuomintang here, and even Mei Lanfang, one of the Four Great Dan performers, reportedly performed on this stage—though no official records exist.

Qibi Hall consists of the main hall, theater stage, Three Stars Tower, large canopy, and auxiliary structures.

For a long time, Qibi Hall served as a school. During the late Qing period, a “free school” (also called “charity school”) was established here using clan funds or public donations to provide free education for children. The teacher’s annual salary of fifty taels of silver was disbursed quarterly by the Jinan Prefecture Education Office to the office of the Shandong Provincial Administration Commissioner (commonly referred to as the “Fantan”). Before liberation, Qibi Hall housed the private Minghu Primary School, and a black plaque with gold characters inscribed by Song Xiaomeng could still be seen above the gate. In the early years after liberation, Minghu Primary School was renamed Shoukanglou Street Primary School, with veteran educator Zhu Guoxiu serving as principal (he later became principal of Gaodusixiang Primary School). At the time, there were seven faculty members, and an old organ was the school’s only asset. Classes were signaled by teachers taking turns ringing a hand bell, lessons were held in the main hall, and students played in the large canopy after class. To the west of the canopy was a courtyard used as a sports field. The playground was adjacent to the Lüzu Temple, separated only by a wall.

After centuries of change, only the main hall of the Lüzu Temple remains, and it is now dilapidated and in danger of collapse. Fortunately, although Qibi Hall has suffered from years of neglect, its overall structure and form have remained largely intact and has since been restored by cultural heritage authorities. Qibi Hall is situated close to the Number One Scholar’s Mansion and the Catholic Church, surrounded by springs such as Fangsheng Spring, Snow Spring, Guangfu Spring, Shuangzhong Spring, and Bukui Spring. Turning it into a tourist attraction would be an excellent initiative.

Qibi Hall also houses the largest surviving Qing Dynasty theater stage in northern China.

Quancheng Road Subdistrict: The Quancheng Road Subdistrict Office is located in the central area of Jinan, established in July 1990 and named after Quancheng Road within its jurisdiction. Covering a total area of 1.27 square kilometers, it borders Daming Lake to the north, Baotu Spring to the west, Quancheng Square to the south, with the bustling Quancheng Road running through it. It serves as the city’s commercial and tourism hub and is also the location of the Shandong Provincial People’s Government offices. It governs seven community residents' committees, with a total population of 16,618, comprising 6,525 households, and a birth rate of 6.28‰.

　 In recent years, the Quancheng Road Subdistrict Party Working Committee has adhered to the guidance of the important thoughts of “-”, earnestly studied and implemented the Party’s “-”... More details about Quancheng Road Subdistrict ++

Further reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units