Ancient Architectural Complex of Guoyu Village

Ancient Architectural Complex of Guoyu Village

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Guoyu Village is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Ancient Architectural Complex of Guoyu Village

Ancient Architectural Complex of Guoyu Village (Sixth Batch of National Heritage)

Era: Ming to Qing Dynasties

Address: Beiliu Town, Yangcheng County

It is an ancient castle-style village nestled against mountains and near water. Most of the existing structures date back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Guoyu Fort was a defensive structure built for protection and refuge during times of crisis, constructed in the eighth year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty. At the center of the fort lies the defensive building “Yulou,” built in the thirteenth year of the Chongzhen era (1640), comprising seven stories and standing 33.3 meters tall. Each floor has five bays; inside the west gate lies the grand Tang Emperor Temple, originally established during the Yuan Dynasty’s Zhizheng era and renovated during the Wanli era (1573–1620); there are also over 40 well-preserved ancient residences from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The city walls are majestic with battlements densely lined up, Yulou rises high, the ancient temple looks solemn, the official residences are luxurious, and the folk houses are elegant. Various types of architecture form an organic system within the small rural settlement of Guoyu Village, creating a uniquely characteristic ancient architectural complex in northern China.

There are over a hundred extant stone tablets in the village, which not only feature exquisite inscriptions but also preserve a wealth of historical facts from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units