Wang Yuanyang Memorial Hall (Wang Shizhen Memorial Hall)

Wang Yuanyang Memorial Hall (Wang Shizhen Memorial Hall)

Wang Yuanyang Memorial Hall (Wang Shizhen Memorial Hall) is a cultural tourism attraction and a patriotic education base.

Wang Yuanyang, courtesy name Zizhen, art name Ruan Ting, also known as Yuanyang Shanren, was a native of Xincheng County (present-day Huantai), Shandong Province. He was a celebrated poet in the early Qing Dynasty and held the high-ranking position of Minister of Justice. Beyond his official responsibilities, he focused on writing literature and led the poetic world for 50 years. Emperor Kangxi selected 300 of his poems to form the Imperial Collection. His works, including poetry, prose, and ci lyrics, totaled dozens of collections and over 560 volumes, earning him the reputation as a master poet of his generation.

Also known as the Wang Shizhen Memorial Hall, Wang Yuanyang Memorial Hall is located in Xincheng Town, Huantai County. The site originally housed the Zhongqin Ancestral Hall, built in 1588 during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era to commemorate Wang Yuanyang’s great-great-grandfather, Wang Chongguang—over 400 years ago. The entire complex is built with brick and wood in a typical Ming Dynasty architectural style, divided into an east and west courtyard. The hall includes seven exhibition rooms and a stone carving garden. The stone carving exhibition displays 185 carved stones rated Grade III or above at the national level; the Wang Yuanyang Life Exhibition room provides a detailed account of his life and continuous poetic endeavors throughout his official career. The Stone Carving Garden was constructed by integrating ancient garden architecture with the east courtyard of the Zhongqin Ancestral Hall. It also houses two massive Taihu rocks—“Cangyun” (Dark Cloud) and “Zhenyu” (Resonant Jade)—belonging to Zhang Yanghao, a Yuan Dynasty Minister of Rites and sanqu lyricist, along with the national first-class stone carving “Shuiyue Songfeng” (Moonlight and Pine Breeze), all available for visitors to admire. Nearby is the Four-Generations Imperial Guardians Archway, built in 1619 during the Ming Dynasty’s Tianqi era. It is the only remaining brick archway in China, facing south, grand in scale, and integrating ancient architecture, carving, and calligraphy arts, making it of high cultural heritage value.

The Wang Yuanyang Memorial Hall was established and opened to the public on December 9, 1986. It was listed as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit in 1992, designated as an outstanding social education base in Shandong Province in 1995, and announced as one of the first provincial patriotic education bases in 1998.

Address: Xinli Village, Xincheng Town, Huantai County, Zibo City

Business Hours: 8:30–17:00

Visiting Time: Approximately 3 hours

Price: 20 RMB per person

Price Description: General admission ticket is 20 RMB; smaller attractions are not separately charged.

Ticket Discount Policy: Free entry with senior citizen ID or military ID; 50% discount with student ID.

Featured Attractions: Over 400-year-old “Mandarin Duck Cypresses,” “Qilu Stone Forest”

Tour Route: Residential Area — Life Exhibition Area — Garden Area — Worship Area — Garden Area

Guide Fee: 50 RMB per session for groups under 10; 80 RMB per session for 11–20 people; 5 RMB per person for groups over 20.

Supporting Facilities:

The scenic area offers dining options and parking.

Visitor Service Center: Located on the east side of the south gate of the Wang Yuanyang Former Residence, the Visitor Service Center is a comprehensive service facility offering guided tours, promotional information, consultation, and complaint services.

Public Transportation:

Take bus No. 71 from Zibo Railway Station to Xincheng Town to reach the memorial hall. Alternatively, take a short-distance bus from Zibo Long-Distance Bus Station (Zhangdian to Tianzhen route), get off at Xinli Village, walk 50 meters west, with an estimated travel time of 30 minutes.

Self-Driving Directions:

Take the Binlai Expressway, exit at Huantai, drive west for about 4 minutes to reach the scenic area.

Parking Information:

The parking lot at the entrance of the scenic area can accommodate up to 50 vehicles.

Information Source: Huantai County Information Center

Wang Shizhen (September 17, 1634 – June 26, 1711), originally named Wang Shizhen, courtesy name Zizhen, also known as Yishang, art names Ruan Ting and Yuanyang Shanren, commonly referred to as Wang Yuanyang, posthumously honored as Wenjian. A native of Xincheng (now Huantai County), Shandong, he often referred to himself as a native of Jinan. He passed the imperial examination in 1658 during the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty and served as Minister of Justice in 1704 during the Kangxi era, gaining a reputable administrative career. He was an outstanding poet and litterateur of the early Qing period, taking the lead in the poetic circle after Qian Qianyi, and was jointly celebrated with Zhu Yizun as the “Southern Zhu and Northern Wang.” He pioneered the “Shen Yun” (divine charm) theory in poetics, exerting profound influence on later generations. His early poems were noted for their elegance and clarity... More details on Wang Shizhen++

Xinli Village: Xinli Village... More details on Xinli Village++