Youxi Nameless Memorial Archway

Youxi Nameless Memorial Archway

The Youxi Nameless Memorial Archway is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Youxi Nameless Memorial Archway is located in Youxi Village, Jingzhen, Zhong County, dating back to the Han Dynasty.

Commonly known as Baotazi, the nameless memorial archway was originally an archway in front of a tomb. It is situated in Youxi Village, Tujing Township, about 8 kilometers north of Zhongzhou District, Chongqing, and was relocated to the Baigong Ancestral Hall in Zhong County in 2003. Built during the Eastern Han Dynasty, it has a history of over 1,800 years and remains well-preserved. It is listed as part of the fifth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units and is the only surviving double-eaved, wood-imitation stone memorial archway in China.

The archway stands 5.44 meters tall and consists of nine tiers, spanning 8 meters on each side. It is a unique structure built by stacking and interlocking nine differently shaped stone blocks. The base is sturdy and robust, with the front carved with a beast that resembles neither a dragon nor a tiger. Above it are hung beams, square lintels, railings, and bracket sets that together form the body, eaves, and roof of the archway. The third and sixth tiers feature carved nude male and female atlas figures at the corners, depicted as brave and muscular, bending and exerting their full strength as if holding up the entire monument. Various birds and beasts are intricately carved around these figures. The roof of the archway is adorned with a turtle-shaped creature symbolizing longevity and good fortune, representing the decorative tiles.

In 2000, the Youxi Nameless Memorial Archway was designated as part of the first batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units of Chongqing Municipality by the Chongqing Municipal People's Government.