Helisan Wang Palace

　　Helisan Wang Palace is a temple built by the Dong people to commemorate the three princes of Zhu Duotong, the king of the ancient Yelang Kingdom. Constructed during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, it covers a floor area of 1,200 square meters. The overall layout follows the architectural style of ancient Han Chinese palaces, while features such as the stage and side rooms adopt the traditional Dong mortise-and-tenon stilt-style construction. It is a typical example of architecture that blends Han and Dong building artistry. Its auxiliary structure, Renhe Bridge, was built in the 24th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty to facilitate worshippers’ visits to the palace. The bridge foundation uses an arched stone structure, while the bridge body features the Dong traditional mortise-and-tenon stilt-style spatial construction and incorporates the architectural style of the Dong tower-style drum tower. It is an arched wind-and-rain bridge with distinctive Dong characteristics. Both structures were listed as key cultural relics protection units of Guangxi in 2009.

　　The classic and majestic Helisan Wang Palace now houses numerous stone inscriptions and carvings. The surrounding Dong villages such as Heli and Nanzhai in Liangkou Township, centered around the palace, are rich in folk legends about the palace and the Yelang Kingdom. Combined with the local community’s simple, mysterious, and primal religious customs, this area has developed into a unique cultural phenomenon. It is entirely different from the long-circulated but narrow-minded, arrogant, and unpopular “Yelang arrogance” culture. Instead, it is a primitive belief culture centered on gratitude, praying for favorable weather, and national peace and prosperity—known as Yelang culture. The Helisan Wang Palace features simple and elegant architecture with exquisitely detailed patterns. It attracts a continuous stream of worshippers. The annual temple fair held on the fifth day of the second lunar month serves as one of the most effective platforms for passing down this culture, reflecting the deep commitment of the descendants of Yelang subjects to preserving and inheriting their traditional culture. On the day of the fair, the Dong people slaughter pigs and sheep to hold grand, ancient-costumed worship ceremonies for the temple deities. The activities are rich and varied, including ancient-costumed performances, elder-led worship rituals, wind instrument playing, Duoye dancing, lusheng group dances, Dong opera performances, fireworks, exhibitions of Dong costumes and silver ornaments, and more. The fair fully showcases Yelang culture, allowing many fascinated domestic and international visitors to immerse themselves in the charm of Dong customs.

　　

　　Source: People’s Government of Liucheng County