Dazhaizi Site

Dazhaizi Site

The Dazhaizi Site is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

The over seventy stone watchtower houses in “Dazhaizi” are the most representative ancient Qiang dwellings that showcase the architectural characteristics of Beichuan. They are genuine “living fossils” of the Qiang culture in Beichuan.

All the houses in “Dazhaizi” are stone watchtower houses, built along the mountain contours and constructed entirely from the locally abundant flagstone. The floor area of the watchtower houses varies, with the largest being about 300 square meters and the smallest close to 60 square meters. Judging from the circular holes (windows) on the inner walls, most of the watchtower houses in “Dazhaizi” have three stories, though some have five. Typically, the first floor was used to house livestock, the second for living, and the third for storing miscellaneous items. Unlike other Qiang-inhabited areas, all structures within Beichuan’s “Dazhaizi” are “watchtower houses” rather than “watchtowers.” Experts explain that due to the steep mountainous terrain in Beichuan, the ancient Qiang people lived in the high mountains surrounded by dense forests, making it difficult for government troops to access. As such, there was no need to invest time and labor constructing defensive watchtowers. Therefore, the Qiang people of Beichuan chose to build stone watchtower houses halfway up the mountains, which served purely residential purposes without any military defense function. The existing stone watchtower houses at the Dazhaizi Site all feature a square floor plan, which is distinctly different from the polygonal watchtowers found in areas like Wenchuan and Mao County, fully reflecting the unique architectural features of the Qiang people in Beichuan.

Protected area: The site area extends 50 meters outward to the east, west, and north, and reaches the Qingpian River to the south.

Construction control zone: Extends downward to the residence of Wang Zegang by the Qingpian River.

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units