Qiheling

Qiheling

Qiheling is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Qiheling, Republican era, Shiping County, Yunnan Province

A famed attraction in southern Yunnan. It serves both as a tourist destination and as a building. The site is located at No. 66 Zhquan Street, Shiping No. 1 Middle School, Yilong Town, Shiping County. Originally built in 1923, it faces south and is composed of the Zhundi Pavilion, Three Buddha Hall, stone arch bridge, Pearl-Spouting Pool, Qiheling Tower, Second Gate, Main Gate, wing rooms, and stele pavilion.

Qiheling was constructed by the people of Shiping to honor the immense contributions made by the local education figure Mr. Chen Heting to the region’s educational development. The tower is a four-tiered hip-and-gable roof structure, standing 21 meters tall. Its columns extend continuously from the first floor to the second-floor eaves purlins, with square, plain stone plinths. The second floor features a corridor. The third floor has windows on all eight sides—round lattice windows—with the roof featuring eight upward-curving corners, topped with gray tiles and three-tiered precious vase ornaments. The building is uniquely large in scale, majestic and spectacular, with a rigorous structure and exquisite craftsmanship. It embodies both traditional Chinese classical architectural art and Western architectural styles, forming a distinctive historical and cultural character. It stands as a rare and outstanding architectural work within southern Yunnan’s built heritage.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units