North Street Memorial Archway in Xiangyun

In 1823, during the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty, the imperial court issued a commendation for Yao Zhizhong, a wealthy merchant in the garrison town of Erhai Wei. Yao chose lifelong celibacy after his fiancée died before their wedding day. To honor this quiet, enduring grief, local builders raised the Yifu Archway on North Street, creating a monument celebrated for its structural rigor.

In the mid-to-late 20th century, this monument was destroyed, leaving only memories in the dust of Xiangcheng Town. In 2008, the Xiangyun County Government began a reconstruction initiative to restore the historic "four streets, eight alleys" layout. Today, the rebuilt gateway stands on North Street, renamed the Erhai Yiyun Archway, meaning the lingering echoes of Erhai.

The structure rises as a massive, multi-tiered gateway of timber and stone. Master carpenters used traditional joinery techniques, fitting interlocking beams and multiple bracket layers, known as dougong, that step outward to support the weight. Flying, upturned eaves slice the mountain air, while carved dragons and window lattices decorate the wooden panels. Heavy stone bases anchor the pillars to the earth, remaining cool to the touch of passing travelers.

This archway connects modern visitors to the military garrison established in 1384. Together with the reconstructed South and West Street archways and the central Drum Tower, it defines the historic core of Xiangyun County, the birthplace of Yunnan's name. As footsteps echo on the stone pavement of the pedestrian street, the archway stands as a physical bridge between imperial honor, personal loss, and modern memory.