Ancestral Hall of the Long Family

Ancestral Hall of the Long Family

The Ancestral Hall of the Long Family is a cultural tourism attraction.

Ancestral Hall of the Long Family: The construction of this ancestral hall began during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty. The site was chosen in front of Shizhaizi, facing east and west. The land area covers 510 square meters, with a building area of 365 square meters. The process—from laying the foundation, firing bricks and tiles, preparing ceramic artifacts and timber, to the actual construction—spanned three stages and took over thirty years. With several rounds of leadership and continuous efforts, the ancestral hall was finally completed. In the front stands a theater stage adorned with an octagonal ceiling, while the back features the main hall symbolizing the “Five Sacred Mountains facing Heaven.” Wing rooms flank both sides, and there is a central courtyard. The four large characters “Ancestral Hall of the Zhang Family” are embedded in the plaque above the front gate. Stone windows with carvings of the Chinese characters “Zhang” and “Shou” adorn either side of the gate.

Inside the hall, the main shrine enshrines the ancestral tablets of past generations. Ritual steles, revival association steles, and ancestral hall construction steles stand on both sides. Above the steps hang several golden plaques, among which is the “Martial Arts Champion” plaque bestowed upon Zhang Bìlù, honored with imperial favor as “Baturxiao,” displayed prominently. The front courtyard features the theater stage, while wing rooms lie to the north and south. Below the stage, there is also an armory with exquisitely carved dragon and phoenix motifs on its exterior, along with upturned eaves and interwoven ceramic and wood carvings. The architecture is uniquely elegant and refined. After the liberation, it was once inhabited by residents and educated youths, and used as a martial arts school. It suffered severe damage during the Cultural Revolution and has since collapsed, with only the surrounding walls remaining intact. These walls are built from fired bricks, each inscribed with the four characters “Ancestral Hall of the Zhang Family.” Originally a renowned ornate ancestral hall, the courtyard was used for militia training during the land reform. The interior stone theater stage was a great venue for performances and Sichuan opera. However, it was damaged due to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake on May 12.