Pailou Collection

WW1 - Pekin Camp, Camp for Chinese Labour Corps, Mont Kemmel
WW1 - Pekin Camp - Camp for The Chinese Labour Corps on the Western Front. The camp was near The Kemmelberg (also known as Kemmel Hill or Mont Kemmel), Heuvelland, West Flanders, Belgium

Pailou arch in Peking (chromolitho)
2782693 Pailou arch in Peking (chromolitho) by European School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pailou arch in Peking. Liebig card, published early 20th century)

Temple of Literature entrance gate, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Woman walking through gate at Temple of Literature, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Temple of Literature gate at night, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Vintage 19th century photograph: Pailou, paifeng, and street, Peking, Beijing, China

P Ailou at the Pei-Ling, the Emperor Tai Tsungs Tomb, Mukden (engraving)
1107815 P Ailou at the Pei-Ling, the Emperor Tai Tsungs Tomb, Mukden (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: P Ailou at the Pei-Ling)

Xianxian, China - Traditional Pailou / Paifang Archways
Xianxian (Sienhsien), China - Street scene with traditional Pailou / Paifang Archways Date: circa 1908

White Dagoba, Qionghua Island - Beifei Park, Beijing, China
Beifei Park, Beijing, China - The White Dagoba (Pagoda or Stupa) on Qionghua Island as seen from the Marble Bridge. Date: circa 1910s

Dongdang, Beijing, China - The Ketteler Memorial
A paifang or " memorial gate" - The Ketteler Memorial which was erected at the location where German career Diplomat Clemens August Freiherr von Ketteler (1853-1900)

Chinese Street - Traditional Pailou / Paifang Archway Date: circa 1910

Hong Kong - Traditional Archway
Hong Kong - Traditional Decorative Stone Memorial Archway (erected to a Virtuous Widow ) - known as Pailou or Paifang. Date: 1920

Chinese men fooling about on a Paifang Gateway, China Date: circa 1920s

Third Class Railway carriage (wagon) to Beijing, China
Beijing, China - Gateway entrance to a temple complex. The ceremonial Paifang gate requires a series of wooden props to prevent it from toppling over! Date: circa 1908

The Summer Palace, Beijing, China - Wooden Gate - stone lion
The Summer Palace, Beijing, China - a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces, mainly dominated by Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake. Wooden Paifang Gate and stone lion on a plinth

Old Gate - Beijing, China - these gates denoted entry into a new district of the city. Date: circa 1910s

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"Pailou: A Timeless Symbol of Cultural Heritage and Transcending Borders" Step back in time to the early 20th century, amidst the chaos of World War I, where a unique connection between East and West emerged. Pekin Camp, also known as Camp for Chinese Labour Corps, became a melting pot of cultures as Chinese workers joined forces with European allies. Amidst this historical backdrop stands an iconic structure - the pailou. Originating from China's ancient traditions they can ornate archways that symbolize prestige and honor and can be found not only in Beijing but also across various regions such as Xianxian and Hong Kong. These traditional paifang archways serve as gatekeepers to important landmarks or neighborhoods. One such landmark is the Temple of Literature entrance gate in Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam. As you walk through its majestic pailou gate, you can almost feel the weight of history on your shoulders. It transports you to another era when scholars sought knowledge within these sacred walls. Even at nightfall, the Temple of Literature gate exudes an ethereal charm under moonlit skies. The soft glow casts intricate shadows upon its weathered stones while reminding us that beauty transcends time. In a vintage 19th-century photograph captured in bustling Peking (now Beijing), we catch a glimpse of daily life intertwined with pailous lining busy streets. These arches served not only as architectural marvels but also as symbols representing prosperity and community spirit. Beyond China's borders lies Mukden (modern-day Shenyang), where Emperor Tai Tsung's tomb proudly boasts a grand Pailou at its entrance – Pei-Ling stands tall against changing times yet remains etched in history forevermore. The allure of pailous extends beyond Asia's shores too; Lancashire's Manchester Chinatown showcases their presence even amidst foreign lands like England.