Huangshan Mountain Tour 
-- Tour to Tangyue Memorial Archways

     Tangyue Memorial Archways, a complex of seven arches, was listed as a key national cultural protection unit under the approval of the State Council in 1996. Situated in Tangyue village six kilometers (four miles) west of the renowned Town of Arches - Shexian County, it is the biggest existing and best-preserved complex of arches in Anhui Province.

The seven memorial archways were built by the Baos in honor of the merits and virtues of their family members. The seven archways stand in the main street of Tangyue Village in order of 'loyalty, filial piety, chastity and charity'. Three were constructed in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and the other four in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The most ancient archway, which has a long history of over 580 years, can be traced back to 1420 during the reign of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty. The latest one was built in 1820 in the reign of Jiaqing.

Behind every archway, there is a touching story. The most acknowledged stories are the ones of 'Ci Xiao Li Archway' (Filial Piety Archway) and the 'Jie Jin San Dong Archway' (Chastity Archway). The 'Ci Xiao Li Archway' was built in honor of Bao Sheyan and Bao Shousun (father and son). According to historical records, father and son were captured by a general, who wanted to execute one of them. Bao Shousun wanted to sacrifice his life to save his father, so he begged the general to behead him instead of his father. Whereas, the father was also a loving and caring father and wanted him to be executed rather than his son. Their action and love moved the general, who finally released them. Later, the court knew the fact and approved the construction of the archway in praise of their filial piety and self-sacrificial spirit.

The construction of 'Jie Jin San Dong Archway' was in praise of a stepmother who remained chaste while raising her stepchild after her husband died. According to historical record, a widow with the surname of Wu, who was the second wife of Bao Wen, lost her husband when she was 29. After her husband's death, she remained chaste and treated her stepchild as her own son. Wu died 31 years later. Her action touched the local officials, who made up their minds to erect an archway to honor her in spite of the convention that erecting an archway for a step-wife was prohibited. This touching story has been passed down from one generation to another in Tangyue Village.

Near the complex of the seven archways stand Nuci and Nanci, respectively also called Qingyi Ancestral Temple and Dunben Ancestral Temple. The ancestral temple was a place to worship the honorable women and men in the family of Baos. Nuci is particularly significant in studying the patriarchal clan system, because in China's feudal society, it was rare for women to have the privilege to be honored in an ancestral temple.

Usually tourists to Huangshan will stop by Tangyue Memorial Archways for a side tour.