Tangyue Memorial Archways Travel Guide

Shexian County is regarded as "a town of archways". In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there were more than 200 memorial archways dotted all over the whole territory, now only 80 of which remain well. Among the preserved ones, Tang Yue Complex is most significant and completely well-preserved.

At the entrance of the Tang Yue Village stand the seven magnificent stone memorial archways-three built in the Ming Dynasty and four in the Qing Dynasty, in the successive order of loyalty, filial piety, women´s chastity and charity. Each was built in relation with a moving story and vividly reveals in one way or another the moral values.

By the side of the seven archways stand two ancient clan halls-one for men, called as Dun Ben Tang, which means the hall of honesty, and another for women, called as Qing Yi Tang, which means the hall of good examples. Both halls provide vivid statues for the tourists to understand the life and work style of the local merchants´ families in the patriarchal-feudal system evolved in Huizhou Area. In addition, the construction of a woman´s hall at the mid 19th century was a rare symbol of women´s victory over feudal routine "women were not allowed to enter the clan hall".
Nuci (Qingyi Hall)

Usually called "Nuci", the hall rarely serves as the "ancestral temple for women". Built in the Qing Dynasty, it was the first of its kind. It is highly valued by those who research feudal ethical codes and patriarchal norms.
Nanci (Dunben Hall)

"Dunben Hall," usually called "Nanci" (the ancestral temple for men) was originally built in the Ming Dynasty. The complex has five rooms covering 750 square meters. Restored in 1962, it still contains all its original features. The interior hall houses important historical records of the flourishment of "Hui Shang" (businessman from Huizhou, today´s Anhui province).

Features
Tangyue Memorial Archways the biggest existing and best-preserved complex of arches in Anhui Province. And it was listed as a key national cultural protection unit under the approval of the State Council in 1996.