Yuci County Yamen

Yuci County Yamen

• A must-visit in Yuci Ancient Town ! It preserves the complete layout of an ancient county yamen and numerous exquisite historic buildings.

• Watch a traditional reenactment of the county magistrate presiding over court sessions in the main hall.

• The third hall displays a couplet personally inscribed by Emperor Kangxi.

Situated on the north side of East Street in Yuci Ancient Town, Yuci County Yamen is one of China’s best-preserved county-level government offices and a must-see attraction in the ancient town. As the most grassroots-level yamen in the feudal bureaucratic system, it offers a microcosm of ancient Chinese yamen culture.

The overall layout, scale, and structure of the yamen reflect the characteristics of local government offices during the Ming and Qing dynasties: “facing south, with civil offices to the left and military to the right, front for administration and rear for living quarters.” The yamen includes both the official working area where the magistrate tried cases, the family living quarters in the rear halls, and areas for temple worship. Most major buildings are aligned along a central axis, which also serves as the main visiting route.

Upon entering the yamen, you’ll see the ceremonial gate (also known as the second gate), under which hangs a plaque reading “Jin Fan Shou Fu” (First Prefecture of Shanxi), indicating that Yuci was once the provincial capital of Shanxi. Passing through a stone memorial archway inscribed with “Integrity Inspires Awe,” you’ll arrive at the main hall, which bears a plaque reading “Ming Jing Gao Xuan” (High Mirror Hanging High)—the place where the magistrate once presided over trials. Today, traditional reenactments of the magistrate’s court sessions are performed here twice daily, in the morning and afternoon. For exact times, please check the official website: http://www.yclc.com.cn/Main/Service.asp?ServiceID=7.

On either side of the courtyard in front of the main hall are the Six Offices, which were the six administrative departments under the county or prefectural level during the Ming and Qing dynasties, corresponding to the central government’s Six Ministries. When you reach the third hall (commonly referred to as the “Qian Ya Fang” in novels), don’t miss the couplet hanging inside: “In scorching summer, sorrow is hard to bear; in clear autumn, joy returns.” This was personally inscribed and gifted by Emperor Kangxi during his inspection to the then-county magistrate Zu Liangcai.

The yamen also features other temples and halls worth visiting, such as the Hou Hou Shrine, Ya Shen Temple, and Yu Shen Hall. If you’re interested, you can also explore the death row prison cells to get a sense of the harsh living conditions prisoners endured. Throughout the yamen—whether in the main hall, temples, or prison cells—the stone and brick carvings on the buildings are exquisitely crafted with skilled craftsmanship. The various couplets and plaques found around the premises reflect the ideals of governance and official ethics in ancient China. Visitors interested in history will find them enlightening.

Address: North side of East Street, Yuci Ancient Town, Yuci District, Jinzhong City

Type: Historic Site

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0354-3288888; 0354-3296800

Official Website: http://www.yclc.com.cn

Opening Hours:

Summer: 8:00–18:00; Winter: 8:30–18:00

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Yuci Ancient Town scenic area. A general admission ticket to Yuci Ancient Town grants access.