A newly built antique paifang in a park in Yiyang County, Henan Province

 

       Paifang is a unique Chinese architectural art and cultural carrier, embodying the essence of ancient Chinese architectural art. According to records, paifang first appeared in the Zhou Dynasty, initially as memorials for honoring chastity and filial piety. Later, they were built in gardens, temples, palaces, mausoleums, and streets, gradually developing into a unique landscape of Chinese architectural culture. Structurally, paifang include wooden paifang, glazed tile paifang, and stone paifang. Due to different functions, there are landmark paifang, gate-style paifang, commemorative paifang, and decorative paifang. Today, standing across urban and rural areas of China, these weather-beaten paifang adorn the local environment with their special images, complementing the rich folk customs.

 

A stone paifang in the Sanfang Qixiang historic district, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province

 

A stone paifang at the street entrance of Zhenyuan Ancient Town, Guizhou Province

 

A street-spanning paifang in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province

 

The "Defend Peace" paifang in Zhongshan Park, Beijing

 

A Ming Dynasty white marble paifang in Xidi Ancient Village, Yixian County, Anhui Province

 

The "Duiyun Paifang" in front of the White Dagoba in Beihai Park, Beijing

 

A landmark paifang on Songdu Imperial Street, Kaifeng City, Henan Province

 

A group of paifang with pavilion and corridor structures in Chengde Mountain Resort, Hebei Province

 

A stone paifang in the Shanhaiguan Scenic Area, Hebei Province

 

Snow scene of a stone paifang in front of the Hanyuan Stele Forest Scenic Area, Kaifeng City, Henan Province