Maixiang Guanzhai

Maixiang Guanzhai

Maixiang Guanzhai is a cultural heritage site protected by the Aba Prefecture.

Maixiang Guanzhai is located about two kilometers east of the county town, on the north side of the Wama Township government office. Covering an area of over 7,000 square meters, it has 853 rooms and used several thousand cubic meters of timber. The main structure of Maixiang Guanzhai forms a traditional Chinese courtyard, serving as the administrative offices and residences for the local tribal rulers and their families. The outer auxiliary courtyards function as public spaces for large gatherings. The interior of the guanzhai (tribal mansion) features a wooden structure, with pillars, beams, purlins, and railings all interlocked using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery techniques, making the construction solid as rock without the use of nails or rivets. The entire mansion is supported by 891 main pillars, with beams and columns interconnected to create a unified framework within the earthen walls. To enhance load-bearing capacity, 380 granite column bases were incorporated. A row of tall towers built behind the courtyard gives the entire structure the appearance of a “roaring tiger opening its mouth.” On January 20, 1989, the guanzhai was officially designated by the Aba Prefecture People’s Government as one of the first batch of key cultural heritage sites under prefectural protection.

Location: Maixiang Guanzhai is located about two kilometers east of the county town, on the north side of the Wama Township government office. Covering an area of over 7,000 square meters, it has 853 rooms and used several thousand cubic meters of timber.

Climate: The region has a cold temperate, semi-humid monsoon climate, with no distinct four seasons. Winters are long and summers are virtually absent, while spring and autumn blend together. There is a clear division between dry and rainy seasons, abundant sunshine, an average annual temperature of 3.3°C, and an average annual precipitation of 711.7 mm.

Contact: 0837-2486956

Ticket Information: No admission fee

Attraction Introduction: The main structure of Maixiang Guanzhai forms a traditional Chinese courtyard, serving as the administrative offices and residences for the local tribal rulers and their families. The outer auxiliary courtyards function as public spaces for large gatherings. The interior of the guanzhai (tribal mansion) features a wooden structure, with pillars, beams, purlins, and railings all interlocked using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery techniques, making the construction solid as rock without the use of nails or rivets. The entire mansion is supported by 891 main pillars, with beams and columns interconnected to create a unified framework within the earthen walls. To enhance load-bearing capacity, 380 granite column bases were incorporated. A row of tall towers built behind the courtyard gives the entire structure the appearance of a “roaring tiger opening its mouth.”