Former Site of Yanggao County Government Office

Former Site of Yanggao County Government Office

The Former Site of Yanggao County Government Office is a cultural relic protection unit of Shanxi Province.

Former Site of Yanggao County Government Office (Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Republican Period

Address: 1912 Northwest Street, Longquan Town, Yanggao County, Datong City

In 1912, Huai Army troops passed through Yanggao, setting fire to the Jade Emperor Pavilion and local shops, which also damaged the county government office, reducing the buildings to ashes. In 1929, then-county magistrate Ma Weizhen rebuilt the government office. After several renovations over the years, it now serves as the office of the Yanggao County Government.

The Former Site of Yanggao County Government Office faces south and features a three-courtyard layout. It stretches approximately 125.9 meters from north to south and about 65 meters from east to west, covering an area of around 8,183 square meters. Only the main hall, second hall, and third hall remain along the central axis, but the overall courtyard layout is intact.

The main hall is five bays wide and eight rafters deep. Its beam structure consists of single-step beams in the front and rear paired with seven-rafter beams spanning the full depth, supported by four pillars. It has a single-eave, flush-gable roof covered with tubular and flat tiles, with lotus-petal-shaped column bases on the front eaves. Both the front and rear eaves feature upturned corners, and the roof is trimmed with yellow glazed tiles.

The second hall is five bays wide and four rafters deep. It uses five-rafter beams spanning the full depth, supported by two pillars. Both the front and rear eaves have upturned corners. It has a single-eave, flush-gable roof covered with tubular and flat tiles, trimmed with yellow glazed tiles.

The third hall is five bays wide and five rafters deep. It features a single-step beam in the front paired with five-rafter beams spanning the full depth, supported by three pillars. Both the front and rear eaves have upturned corners. It has a single-eave, flush-gable roof covered with tubular and flat tiles, trimmed with yellow glazed tiles.

The Former Site of Yanggao County Government Office includes three main structures: the main hall, second hall, and third hall. The remaining ruins of the site document the history of the county town and provide insight into the historical development and evolution of the Yanggao region, holding significant historical and social value.

Source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Longquan Town: Longquan Town is the political, economic, and cultural center of Yanggao. It lies 50 kilometers west of Datong, the “Coal Capital,” and 300 kilometers east of Beijing, the capital city. It is traversed by the Dazhang Highway, Shenfeng Highway, and the Beijing-Baotou Railway, giving it a unique transportation and geographical advantage. The town covers a total area of 183.4 square kilometers and governs 29 administrative villages and 10 residential communities. It has a total of 39,711 households and a population of 99,860, including 13,517 agricultural households with 44,848 people. There are 26,000 rural laborers, and the total cultivated area is 78,000 mu, of which 62,000 mu are irrigated… More information about Longquan Town++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units