The Ancient Architectural Complex of Guoyu Village

　　The Ancient Architectural Complex of Guoyu Village (Sixth Batch of National Protected Sites)

　　Era: Ming to Qing Dynasties

　　Address: Beiliu Town, Yangcheng County

　　It is an ancient castle-style village nestled against mountains and near water. Most of the existing structures date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.

　　Guoyu Fortress was built as a defensive structure for refuge and self-protection during the eighth year of the Chongzhen reign in the Ming Dynasty. At the center of the fortress stands the defensive building “Yulou,” constructed in the thirteenth year of the Chongzhen reign (1640), comprising seven stories and standing 33.3 meters tall. Each floor has five rooms; inside the western gate of the fortress lies the Tang Emperor Temple, originally built during the Yuan Dynasty’s Zhizheng era and renovated during the Wanli period (1573–1620), featuring grand scale. There are also over 40 well-preserved ancient residences from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The fortress walls are majestic, lined with battlements; Yulou rises high; the ancient temple looks solemn; official residences are luxurious, and folk houses are elegant. Various types of architecture form an organic system within this small rural settlement of Guoyu Village, creating a uniquely distinctive ancient architectural complex in northern China.

　　There are over 100 stone tablets and steles preserved in the village. Not only are their inscriptions exquisitely carved, but they also retain a wealth of historical facts from the Ming and Qing dynasties.