Jiuxiang Stone Memorial Archway
九襄石牌坊
A Daoguang-era Qing stone memorial archway honoring chastity and filial piety, carved with figures from 48 opera episodes. It is a National Key Cultural Relic and is often visited together with the pear blossom season.
Jiuxiang Stone Memorial Archway stands in Jiuxiang Town, Hanyuan County. Built in 1849 (the 29th year of the Daoguang reign) to honor chastity and filial piety, it stands about 11 meters tall. Its four-pillar, three-gate structure imitates wooden architecture and is carved entirely from red sandstone. Both the front and back are decorated with high-relief carvings of 48 opera episodes, including scenes from *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* and *The West Chamber*. The figures are lively and the layering is intricate, earning the archway the nickname "Corridor of Chinese Stone Carving Art." It is a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit. The archway sits in the town center, is free to visit, and can be seen in about twenty minutes. Jiuxiang is the core growing area for Hanyuan's pear blossoms, so you can stop to see the flowers in March on the way. The town's Huangguo mandarin oranges are also well known. From Ya'an city proper, it is about 1.5 hours away via the Ya-Xi Expressway.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Hanyuan Lake
- Longcanggou National Forest Park
- Wanggangping Scenic Area
- Anshunchang (Dadu River Crossing Site)
- Wangyu Ancient Town
- Zhougong Mountain Hot Spring
- Ya'an Museum
- Yazhou Covered Bridge