Jìnzhōng Bīngxiàn Memorial Archway

Jìnzhōng Bīngxiàn Memorial Archway

The Jìnzhōng Bīngxiàn Memorial Archway is a cultural tourism attraction.

Commonly known as the Stone Memorial Archway, it is located at the northern end of Zhonghe Street in Chengguan Town, Hépíng County.

Bīngxiàn Memorial Archway

The Bīngxiàn Memorial Archway was erected in the 4th year of the Chongzhen era (1631 AD) by Liu Hongguang, the imperial censor inspecting Shanxi during the late Ming Dynasty, in honor of his teacher, Yao Jizhong, who served as the deputy commander of the Changping Military Defense Circuit under the Shandong Provincial Surveillance Commission.

The Bīngxiàn Memorial Archway is built from 88 slabs of bluish-gray stone, featuring a four-pillar, three-story structure with exquisite carvings. The main archway stands 9.57 meters tall and 8.5 meters wide, designed in an imitation wooden, double-eaved, hip-and-gable roof architectural style. The two central pillars reach a height of 5.9 meters, while the two side pillars are 4.6 meters tall. Each pillar is flanked by two protective stone blocks, each carved with one large lion and a pair of small lions, totaling 24 lions of varying sizes. The sides of the stone pillars are adorned with lotus and peony patterns, and the central bay between the pillars features a circular ring pattern of qilin (mythical beasts) connecting them. The secondary bays are connected by Buddhist swastika motifs. The central horizontal beam is 3.3 meters long and inscribed with 19 characters: “Zhōngxiàn Dàfū Chāngpíng Bīngbèi Dào Shāndōng Jiāncì Fùshǐ Yào Jìzhòng” (中宪大夫昌平兵备道山东按察副使药济众). On the beam above, there is a carving depicting the “Eighteen Scholars Ascending to Yingzhou,” above which a stone plaque is inscribed with four large characters: “Língjīng Suǒyào” (陵京锁钥). The side bays of the central section feature carvings of “Double Phoenixes Facing the Sun,” with the top designed in an imitation wooden, multi-tiered, hip-and-gable roof. The lower eaves of the side bays have carved floral pillars on the ridge that support the upper eave.

The stone memorial archway is majestic in presence,

with an exquisitely crafted structure that is quite captivating to behold.

Attraction Location

Chengguan Town, Hépíng County, Shanxi Province, 032700