Baogai Ancient Architectural Complex

Baogai Ancient Architectural Complex

The Baogai Ancient Architectural Complex is a cultural relic protection unit of Hunan Province.

Baogai. According to records, during the late Song Dynasty, Liao Hanyi, the prefect of Hengyang, passed through this area and, charmed by the pleasant landscape and elegant surroundings, decided to build a residence and settle down. At that time, amid the turmoil of war, he constructed a seven-story tower, later known as the Baojia Tower. Due to the region’s abundant resources, it was also referred to as Baogai Tower, from which the name “Baogai” originated. The present-day Baogai Town was formed by merging the former Baogai Township and Zhangshujiao Township, governing 31 administrative villages, one neighborhood committee, with a population of 46,800 and a total area of 176.5 square kilometers. It is located about 45 kilometers southeast of downtown Hengyang, bordering Anren County to the east, Guan Market Town to the west, Leiyang City to the south, and Hengdong County to the north. It is 13 kilometers from the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway and 12 kilometers from Jiangkou Niaozhou, hence the saying “a rooster’s crow can be heard in four counties.”

While touring inside Baogai Tower, you’ll find that no household locks its doors—you can visit anyone’s home, and every resident you meet will greet you with a kind smile, which speaks volumes about the warmth and simplicity of the people of Baogai.

Here, as in other rural towns I’ve visited, most of those staying at home are elderly people, women, and children, while the able-bodied young adults have gone out to work. With spring plowing season now underway, there are very few strong laborers left working the fields at home.

The elderly here are extremely friendly to outsiders—just ask them a question and they’ll gladly answer. The elderly woman above, in her 80s, is giving a detailed account of the history and local customs of Baogai Tower to a newspaper reporter traveling with me...

Many slogans from the Cultural Revolution era can still be found on these ancient buildings.

In Baogai Town, everyone from 80-year-old seniors to 10-year-old children can play the suona, making it a well-known “Suona Village” in Hengyang. It’s a pity that it’s not a traditional lunar festival now—otherwise, you’d surely hear the beautiful melodies played by the locals here...

Stepping out of Baogai Tower, in the nearby farmland, locals are busy with spring plowing. Look at these two—they’re actually just kids, likely students taking advantage of the May Day holiday to help out with farm chores. They’re far more sensible than many city kids these days...

Further reading:

· Ninth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Hunan Province