Helisi Wanggong Palace

Helisi Wanggong Palace

Helisi Wanggong Palace is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Helisi Wanggong Palace is a temple built by the Dong people to commemorate the three princes of Zhu Duotong, the king of the ancient Yelang Kingdom. Constructed during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, it covers an area of 1,200 square meters. The overall layout follows the architectural style of ancient Han imperial palaces, while structures such as the stage and side rooms adopt the Dong-style post-and-lintel ganlan construction, making it a typical building that features a harmonious blend of Han and Dong architectural art. Its auxiliary structure, Renhe Bridge, was built in the 24th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty to facilitate worshippers’ visits to the palace. The bridge foundation uses a stone arch design, while the bridge body features the traditional Dong post-and-lintel ganlan spatial structure and incorporates elements of the Dong tower-style drum tower architecture. It is an arched wind-and-rain bridge with distinct Dong characteristics. Both the palace and the bridge were listed as Guangxi Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Units in 2009.

The classic and majestic Wanggong Palace now houses numerous stone inscriptions and carvings. Centered around it, the Dong villages of Heli and Nanzhai in Liangkou Township are rich in folklore about the palace and the Yelang Kingdom. Coupled with the local community’s simple, mysterious, and primal religious customs, the area has developed into a unique cultural phenomenon. It is completely different from the outdated, arrogant, and unpopular “Yelang arrogance” culture that has been passed down for millennia. Instead, it represents a primitive belief culture of gratitude, praying for favorable weather and peace for the nation and its people—known as Yelang culture. The architecture of Helisi Wanggong Palace is simple and elegant, with exquisitely crafted patterns. It attracts a constant stream of worshippers, and the annual temple fair held on the fifth day of the second lunar month serves as one of the most effective vehicles for passing on this culture, reflecting the deep commitment of the descendants of Yelang subjects to preserving their traditional heritage. On the day of the temple fair, the Dong people slaughter pigs and sheep and hold grand ancient-costume worship ceremonies for the temple deities. The activities are rich and colorful, including ancient-costume performances, elder-led worship rituals, wind instrument playing, Duoye dance, lusheng dancing, Dong opera performances, fireworks, and exhibitions of Dong costumes and silver ornaments. The temple fair fully showcases Yelang culture, allowing numerous domestic and international visitors who come to admire it to also fully experience Dong ethnic customs.

Source: People's Government of Liucheng County

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units