Yu Zhou Office (Yu County Paper-cutting Museum)

Yu Zhou Office (Yu County Paper-cutting Museum)

The Yu Zhou Office is now located in the southwest corner of the ancient city of Yu County, Hebei Province. It was built around the seventh year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1374 AD) and served as the administrative seat of Yu Zhou during both the Ming and Qing dynasties. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was repurposed as the county government and subsequently suffered damage. In 2009, the county government invested hundreds of millions to rebuild it. Although the reconstructed building does not fully resemble the original, it largely follows the original architectural style. The "Yu Zhou Zhi (Annals of Yu Zhou), Shunzhi 16th Year (1659 AD)," Volume 1, features a map of the county town indicating the location of the Yu Zhou Office in the southwest corner. The administrative office layout map further details the internal structure of the Yu Zhou Office.

The reconstructed Yu Zhou Office faces south and is arranged along a north-south axis, divided into three sections: east, west, and central. The reconstruction project covers an area of 46 mu, with a construction area of 8,000 square meters, 18 courtyards, and 297 rooms. The Yu Zhou Office and the China Yu County Paper-cutting Museum are primarily used for exhibiting, researching, creating, and showcasing paper-cuttings from China and abroad, as well as other traditional cultural and folk collections.

The museum currently has 18 exhibition halls, with displays divided into nine themes:

Exhibition on Historical Figures of Yu Zhou: Throughout history, Yu County has been a place of abundant talent. From Feng Tang, who served as Prime Minister of Chu during the Han Dynasty, to the renowned scholar Lu Sheng of the Western Jin, the notable official Yan Feng and Gu Bi of the Northern Wei, the Tang Dynasty general Hou Zhongzhuang, the Jin Dynasty Minister of Revenue Cheng Hui, the Yuan Dynasty Minister of Works Wang Min, the Ming Dynasty garrison commander Ma Fang, to Wei Xiangshu of the Qing Dynasty, hailed as the “foremost upright official,” the region has produced numerous civil and military figures across dynasties. According to incomplete statistics, there were 355 individuals who achieved the status of jinshi or juren during the Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, and historical records document over 40 individuals from Yu County who authored works. During the Qing Dynasty, it was known as the “land of literature,” where “writings flourished like a forest.” This exhibition hall introduces 27 notable historical figures from Yu County.

Cultural Theme Exhibition of Yu County: Yu County boasts a long history and profound cultural heritage. The earliest humans in the East originated here, the political and cultural imprints of the ancient state of the Shang and Zhou periods remain, and the intersection of the Yangshao, Hongshan, and Hetao cultures—referred to as the “Three Forks of Chinese Civilization”—is found here. It is a “convergence point of three major traditional cultures”: farming, nomadic, and military cultures. It is also a gathering place for “three distinctive cultural forms”: folk culture, religious culture, and revolutionary culture. Millennia of continuous civilization and the blending of diverse cultures have formed a unique regional cultural identity in northern China.

Paper-cutting Exhibition at the Yu County Paper-cutting Museum: This exhibition is divided into four galleries: the first gallery, “New Sprouts in Hometown”; the second, “New Buds Blooming”; the third, “Spring Blossoms and Autumn Fruits”; and the fourth, “Standing Out Among the Best.”

Exhibition on Achievements of Two Yu County Paper-cutting Art Festivals: Featuring nearly twenty display boards, this exhibition presents a rich array of content and vivid illustrations that showcase the grand events and outcomes of the First Yu County Paper-cutting Art Festival in 2010 and the Second Yu County Paper-cutting Art Festival and the First China International Paper-cutting Art Festival in 2011.

Exhibition on Yu County Paper-cutting Organizations: This section mainly introduces the objectives, organizational structure, and related charters of the China Yu County Paper-cutting Art Research Association, Fellowship Association, and the China Yu County Paper-cutting Association.

Exhibition on Yu County Film and Television Bases: This section introduces film locations and plot summaries from various movie studios and television production agencies that have filmed dramas in our county.

Yu County Ancient Fortress Photography Exhibition: This exhibition is divided into two galleries and uses nearly 100 images to authentically document the historic appearance, local customs, and traditional folk culture of the existing ancient fortresses in Yu County.

Yu County Revolutionary History Exhibition Hall: This exhibition is divided into three galleries: the first, “Exhibition on the Revolutionary History of Yu County”; the second, “Exhibition on the Deeds of Zhang Su”; and the third, “Exhibition on the Deeds of Ma Baoyu.”

Folk Collection Exhibition at the Yu Zhou Office: Located in the armory, all exhibits in this exhibition hall are provided by private collectors. The four galleries display antique furniture, ancient coins and pottery, ancient porcelain, Cultural Revolution-era items, and old books and periodicals.

Transportation Guide

Location: Prefecture (State) Front Street, Yu County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province

Access: Within Yu County, you can take a taxi or walk along Pailou Street to reach Prefecture Front Street.