This monument, historically known as the Title Archway and rebuilt as the Civilization Archway, stands as a physical record of academic ambition. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, local Bai scholars who passed the imperial civil service examinations had their names carved into its surface. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, nearly one hundred names of jinshi and juren graduates were recorded here, transforming the stone into a roll of honor.

The structure features three arched doorways and two stories of classical stonework. Layered dougong brackets support traditional tiled eaves that cut a sharp silhouette against the blue Yunnan sky. On the main crossbeam, four carved characters read "Guang Qian Li Hou," directing the youth of the town to honor their ancestors and apply themselves to their studies.

Human life flows constantly around the base of the monument. Local grandmothers in traditional Bai clothing sit on the cool stone steps to talk and laugh in the afternoon sun. Nearby, the scent of toasted wheat, pork lard, and brown sugar rises from charcoal ovens where vendors bake Xizhou Baba. The crackle of hot coals and the drift of pale wood ash fill the air.

This archway is a protected National Key Cultural Relic, preserved since 2001 as part of the Bai Traditional Architecture Group. It connects the town's commercial past—shaped by the wealthy Yan and Dong merchant families—with its scholarly identity. In 1941, the writer Lao She walked these neat streets, comparing the town to Cambridge because of the clear water running along the stone pathways. Today, the archway remains the anchor of Sifang Street, holding the memory of centuries of scholars while serving as a resting place for the modern community.