Located in the south of the ancient city of the Old Town of Lijiang, the Mu's Mansion is the residence of the Muzhi Chieftain in Lijiang of all previous dynasties. Its architecture has the architectural style of the Central Plains in the Ming Dynasty and the craftsmanship of the Bai and Naxi nationalities. It is exquisite and spectacular.
After arriving at the Old Town of Lijiang, you can walk along the river on the west side of Sifang Street to Mu's Mansion, which is 10 minutes away.
Xu Xiake once praised "the beauty of the palace is comparable to the emperor". Nowadays, Mu's Mansion has become a symbol of the ancient city, attracting countless tourists to come here for appreciation. Although the Mu's Mansion is a chieftain's mansion, its magnificent palaces are not inferior to those of the royal family. It is said that it was built in imitation of the Forbidden City at that time, and during its heyday, there were more than 100 palace buildings.
Walking along the flagstone road at the gate of the Pass, the first thing you can see is the "Flowing Fragrance in Rains" wooden signboard workshop. "Flowing Fragrance in Rains" is a homonym of "Go to school" in Naxi. It can be seen that Chieftain Mu still attaches great importance to culture and education.
Turning to the Wood Archway, on the right hand side is a beautifully carved stone memorial archway with the word "loyalty" written on it. The structure of the stone memorial archway at that time was magnificent and the carving was exquisite, and the people praised it as "Three Pagoda Temple in Dali, Lijiang stone memorial archway".
Stepping into the solemn red gate of the Mu Mansion, the central axis is lined with buildings such as the Council Hall, Wanjuan Tower, Protectorate Hall, Guangbi Tower, Yuyin Tower, and Sanqing Hall, all of which are exquisite and unparalleled. On both sides of the central axis, there are more than 160 houses, including annex halls, attic buildings, street crossing buildings, courtyards, official post offices, and long corridors, arranged in a staggered and majestic manner, reproducing the style of Lijiang Tusi Mansion in the past.
The Conference Hall is dignified and grand, with a majestic atmosphere, and is the place where the Lijiang Mu clan chieftains discuss politics.
Wanjuan Tower is a manifestation of the cultural values advocated by the Mu clan chieftains. It is said that it once housed a thousand volumes of Dongba Sutra, a hundred volumes of Tripitaka Sutra, a collection of poems by the six chieftains, as well as numerous cultural treasures such as calligraphy and painting by famous scholars.
The Protectorate Hall, also known as the Rear Council Hall, is a place where wooden tusi discuss family matters. Guangbi Building was earlier the library of Lijiang Prefecture Magistrate's Office, carved beams and painted rafters, very beautiful. Yuyin Tower is a place where chieftains sing, dance, and entertain, and was also located here when they received imperial edicts. The Sanqing Hall is a product of the Taoist spirit advocated by the Mu clan chieftain, and it is also a witness to the close connection between the Naxi ethnic group and the Central Plains civilization.
At the end of the tour, you can see the Loyalty Memorial Archway, with the words of Xu Xiake and the screen wall outside the Mu's Mansion Gate are good places for taking photos.
Mu's Mansion has experienced hundreds of years of glory, most of which were destroyed in the wars of the late Qing Dynasty. The remaining parts were also severely damaged in the 1996 Lijiang earthquake, and the vast majority of what is currently seen were rebuilt in 1999. Although it is rebuilt, it does not prevent it from becoming a representative building in the Old Town of Lijiang. The TV series "The Wind and Clouds of the Wood Mansion" and "The King of Money" were both filmed here. Visiting Lijiang without visiting Mu Fu is almost equivalent to not visiting Lijiang.
Travel Tips
Address: No. 49 Guangyi Street, Dayan Town, Gucheng District, Lijiang City
Telephone: 0888-5181468,0888-5122572
Opening Hours: 8:30-17:30
Admission ticket : CNY 40