Qu Yuan Ancestral Hall

Built in the 15th year of Yuanhe in the Tang Dynasty (618 A.D.-907 A.D.), the Qu Yuan Ancestral Hall is located in Xiangjiaping just 1.5 kilometers from Tigui County and serves as a dedicated memorial to the great poet Quan Yuan. It was renovated during the Song (960 A.D.-1,279 A.D.), the Yuan (1206 A.D.-1368 A.D.), the Ming (1368- A.D.-1644 A.D.) and the Qing Dynasties (1616 A.D.-1911 A.D.) respectively, and moved to its present site in 1978 due to the construction of the Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project.

The Qu Yuan Ancestral Hall is composed of the mountain gate, main hall (by which it is centered), and side-halls on each side. The entire architecture is very magnificent in style and stands erectly among orange trees. The mountain gate has retained its original appearance with a 17-meter high memorial archway on the top and two 7-meter high side buildings on each side. The memorial archway is decorated with glazed tiles featuring three-stage roof corners, among which the first-stage ones are fish patterned and the second- and third-stage ones are dragon patterned, and a tablet written “Qu Yuan Ancestral Hall” by the famed author and poet Guo Moruo in the center. Underneath the roof are vibrantly colored decorative patterns such as flying phoenixes, cranes, and flowers; the paintings contain dramatic mixes of red, yellow, green, and blue colors, each setting off its neighbors in a most fantastic way.

A statue of poet Qu Yuan is enshrined in the Qu Yuan Ancestral Hall as well as his tomb, a stele porch, and the Qu Yuan Memorial Museum with two exhibit halls: Tigui Unearthed Culture Relics Exhibit Hall on the upper floor, and Qu Yuan’s Life Story Exhibit Hall on the lower floor.

Surrounded by hills on one side and water on the other, the sceneries around the Qu Yuan Ancestral Hall are also exciting in and of themselves, and visitors are presented with a panoramic view of all the southern peaks when standing in the hall. A grand Dragon Boat Race is held during the Dragon Boat Festival every year, during which the river is decorated with colorful boats and the riverbank is crowded with cheering people, thus attracting visitors from all different corners of the world.

Background Information

As a famous poet and Chu State official in the Warring States Period (475 B.C.-221 B.C.), Qu Yuan was very patriotic, assisted three kings during his lifetime, and was deeply loved by the Chu people. Unfortunately, he was forced to resign from his official position because of rumors. After his resignation, the Chu State was attacked and defeated by the Qin armies due to political corruption. Qu Yuan felt very disappointed in crisis so he killed himself in the Miluo River out of despair after the fall of the Chu State. Legend says that he was then carried to his hometown by a large fish where he was buried ceremoniously by his beloved Chu people. The poetry collection Lisao written by Qu Yuan has been passed down from one generation to another. It is the original source of classical Chinese romantic poetry, and Qu Yuan is forever remembered and respected by the people all over the world for both his poems and his patriotic spirit.

Travel tips

Qu Yuan’s hometown is also located in Tigui, a fantastic scenic spot to visit in addition to the ancestral hall.

Address: Qu Yuan Ancestral Hall is located in Xiangjiaping, 1.5 kilometers from Tigui County.

Bus Routes: Take a bus from Yichang Bus Station to Tigui, then transfer to a bus to the scenic spot directly.

Opening hours: 8:30 am to 6:00 pm every day