Yao'an Guanglu Ancient Town

Guanglu Town, located in the northern part of Yao'an County, is another ancient town with a long history in Chuxiong Prefecture. It is situated 58 kilometers southeast of Shiyang Ancient Town and 85 kilometers northwest of Chuxiong City. To travel from Shiyang Ancient Town to Guanglu Ancient Town, one must first head southeast for 36 kilometers along a county road to Dayao County, then turn southwest and drive 22 kilometers along National Highway G227. The central street of Guanglu Ancient Town is shaped like a 'hui' character. One corner of the 'hui' is separated by a wall from the residences of two Qing Dynasty daotai (officials), hence the name 'Three Steps Two Daotai.' This central area has clearly undergone renovation and reconstruction, with the original residents relocated and the area converted into commercial shops. Although it appears bright and beautiful on the surface, it has not brought prosperity; most shops are locked and vacant. In contrast, the unrenovated streets and alleys, with their homestays, retain the lively atmosphere of the ancient town. Since the Tang Dynasty, Guanglu Town has been the administrative center for various levels of government, including roads, prefectures, and counties. The Yao'an Road Military and Civilian General Administration Office in the town was built during the Yuan Dynasty on the site of the original government office. 'Road' was an administrative level higher than 'prefecture' at the time. The Yao'an Road Military and Civilian General Administration Office was always managed by the Gao family of Yao'an, hence it was commonly known as the Gao Tusi Yamen. The Gao family were influential ministers during the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms and hereditary tusi (local chieftains) during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, spanning 54 generations. The main building of the Yao'an Road Military and Civilian General Administration Office is shaped like a 'wang' character, consisting of the Yi Gate, the Diligence Hall, the Thoughtful Hall, and the Jade Resonance Hall. Each hall has couplets emphasizing the importance of diligent governance for the people, which played a crucial role in the Gao family's 700-year history of glory. There is a courtyard on the side of the General Administration Office, originally the living quarters for the officials' families, now a leisure tea room connected to the garden in the backyard. With the embellishment of modern garden art, the side and back courtyards are lush, elegant, and serene. During the Republic of China period, the descendants of the Gao family built the Gao Family Ancestral Hall in front of the side courtyard. Inside the hall, besides the ancestral tablets of the Gao family, there is also a genealogy of 54 generations. Today, both the Yao'an Road Military and Civilian General Administration Office and the Gao Family Ancestral Hall are part of the Cultural Yao'an Research Institute.