A Full Guide to Chinese Architecture: with Best Examples of Modern & Ancient Chinese Architecture

Chinese architecture is one of the world’s most distinctive and enduring building traditions. From the grandeur of imperial palaces to the harmony of Chinese gardens, they reflect the country’s long history, philosophy, and aesthetics. When planning a China tour, don’t miss these stunning Chinese buildings.

What is Chinese Architecture

Chinese architecture (in Chinese: 建筑) is one of the most important styles in Eastern building traditions. It mainly uses wood construction along with rammed earth methods, creating three basic structural types (beam-supported, post-connected, and log-built) with lots of different roof designs. This architectural tradition synthesizes multi-ethnic features while manifesting profound Chinese culture and philosophies of "nature-human unity" and "site-specific adaptation."

Chinese Architecture Art 

Every Chinese architecture is a fusion of wisdom and art. These structures boast unique roof styles, varying from hip-and-gable, flush gable, and overhanging gable, to pyramidal, and the exclusive hip roof. Structurally, mortise-and-tenon joinery and bracket sets are used to ensure structural integrity while supporting gracefully extended eaves. As for the decorative arts, roofs, walls, doors, windows, and beams are adorned with intricate carvings. You'll see carved bats for good luck, painted flowers for wealth, and even the support beams (like queti) are covered in pretty designs.

Chinese Architecture Elements

In traditional Chinese architecture, you may often see eave tiles, flying eves, ‌Dougong, ‌Hanging Flower Pillar, ‌Que Ti, and Caisson Ceiling. These are the classical Chinese architectural elements, adding unique charm to the buildings. Vermilion-red gates and hollow-carved floral windows usually serve as ornamental elements. Besides, dragon is also a common element that can be seen in stone column of the Confucius Temple in Qufu, the ornamental columns of Tian'anmen Square, and other Chinese dragon architectures.

Chinese Architecture Materials​

Chinese architecture primarily uses wood as the main structural material for beams, columns, dougong brackets, doors, and windows. Bricks and tiles are also commonly employed. Stone serves as foundational material for platforms, staircases, balustrades, and ornamental carvings, whereas rammed earth provides durable walls and substructures. Certain buildings integrate metal fittings, including bronze plinths and door studs or iron structural supports.

Chinese Architecture Feng Shui

Feng Shui was a significant part of Chinese culture and ancient Chinese architecture. According to Feng Shui in Chinese architecture, mountain ranges were treated as "dragon veins," and water was regarded as the source of vitality. Hence, these were the essential elements for an ideal and auspicious site to build an architecture. The layout of buildings focused on the balance of yin and yang as well as the circulation and gathering of qi. >> Recommended 17 days China ancient architecture tour

Ancient Chinese Architecture Characteristics

1. Harmony and Balance

Chinese architecture is all about creating perfect balance. These buildings are not only well-built but also harmoniously combined with the surroundings. Typically, Chinese architecture adopts symmetrical layouts.

2. Privacy and Seclusion

The exterior walls of ancient Chinese architecture often appear as enclosures or high walls, completely separating internal and external spaces. Upon entering through the courtyard gate, you might first encounter a screen wall, a beautifully landscaped garden, or winding paths leading to secluded areas. 

3. Structure and Proportion

Chinese architecture usually mixes wood and stone, and in minority areas, you’ll often see special local materials and totem designs. Mortise-and-tenon joints and bracket sets ensure precise proportions in eaves, pillars, and walls.

4. Rich Decorative Details

The smooth, flowing lines and the colorful roof tiles give them a three-dimensional look. Old-style drip tiles and ornaments shaped like mythical creatures take the place of modern gutters, creating a mysterious charm.

5. Integration with Nature

What's most remarkable about ancient Chinese architecture is how these structures complement their environments. The presence of architecture never disrupts the overall scenery; instead, buildings and environment complement each other perfectly. Typically situated amidst mountains and by waters, this enhances the overall effect.

Chinese Architecture History

Chinese architecture has evolved over 5,000 years. Exploring each ancient Chinese architecture time period reveals how styles and techniques changed through the history of China.

Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties (2100 BCE–221 BCE)

Early Chinese architecture had timber frames with mortise-tenon joints and rammed-earth bases. Roofs were thatched or clay, often with gentle slopes. The Shang dynasty added raised platforms for flood control. By the Western Zhou, expensive tubular tiles appeared in palaces, and the Rites of Zhou defined palace standards by rank.

Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC-220 AD)

During the Qin and Han periods, Chinese architecture reached new heights and basically invented imperial grandeur. There were massive palaces built on these towering rammed-earth platforms, decorated with hollow bricks carved with dragons and phoenixes. Everything was super symmetrical, from the fancy multi-gate Epang Palace to the Great Wall's strategic passes.

Wei-Jin and Northern-Southern Dynasties (220-589 CE)

Continuous warfare led to simplified timber structural techniques, and it saw a rapid development of Buddhism in China. Various Chinese Buddhist architectures were built, including Buddhist caves and pagodas.

Sui and Tang Dynasties (581-907 AD) 

Capital city planning of this time had checkerboard layouts. Mass production of cylindrical tiles enabled deeper eaves extensions. During the Tang Dynasty, Buddhist temples established composite complexes of relic pagodas and pavilions. Trimmed glazed tiles in ancient Chinese architecture were first used atop the Hanyuan Hall. 

Song, Liao, and Jin Dynasties (960-1279 AD) 

Traditional Chinese architecture in this period used tortoiseshell window grilles, and bamboo curtains became frequently seen in teahouses. Gardens added winding paths and ornate gates. Pagodas and temples, like the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, adopted double-frame designs for stability, with large eaves supported by diagonal beams.

Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD)

Tibetan Buddhist temples in Chinese architecture adopted red and white walls with gold tops, and big halls with strong beams. Common houses used simple curved roofs and wooden windows. There was an engineering marvel: the Five Sages Hall’s brick dome was achieved without wooden beams.

Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911 AD)

The Ming and Qing dynasties are among the best Chinese dynasties in architecture, and they saw the simplification of bracket sets (dougong) and the widespread adoption of brick-and-stone construction. Masonry construction became more prevalent, and building layouts followed strict organizational principles. Besides, the roof designs of ancient Chinese architecture grew more varied, and decorative craftsmanship underwent a huge development.

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Chinese Architecture Styles and Types

Six Typical Chinese Architecture Styles

Based on architectural characteristics from different regions and ethnic groups across China, the distinctive Chinese architecture is classified into six major styles. They are Jing-style (Beijing), Su-style (Suzhou), Hui-style (Anhui), Chuan-style (Sichuan), Min-style (Fujian), and Jin-style (Shanxi). 

Main Types of Chinese Architecture

Palaces

A palace used to mean any ordinary house. But after the Qin Dynasty, this ancient Chinese architecture became only for emperors, showing off their top-tier status. These palaces faced south and had a smart layout: the fancy front hall for big events and meetings, the cozy back chamber for living, and side rooms to round it out. As for a Chinese architectural landmark of this type, the Imperial Palace stands out.

Temples

Chinese temple architectures were often built following the layout of imperial palaces. Han Chinese Buddhist temples usually have bell or drum towers and pagodas, with layouts that blur inside or outside spaces, like White Horse Temple, one of the top 10 temples in China. Tibetan Buddhist monasteries fuse Han and Tibetan elements, which can be seen from Tashilhunpo Monastery in Tibet.

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Pavilions

In Chinese architecture, pavilions are noted for their open design and adaptable form. Built along paths or watersides, their compact yet diverse designs—square, round, octagonal, or hexagonal—often use wood or bamboo to blend seamlessly with nature. China's Four Great Pavilions include Zuiweng Pavilion, Mid-Lake Pavilion‌, Taoran Pavilion, and Aiwan Pavilion.

Terraces 

This type of Chinese architecture thrived especially before the Qin-Han era, with towering platform structures persisting into the Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms periods. From leisure decks for enjoying landscapes to ceremonial stages and elevated offices, terraces (tai) combined aesthetic appeal with practicality. 

Storeyed Building

Lou is a building with towering height and a multi-storied structure, primarily used for residence, book storage, and sightseeing, like the Yellow Crane Tower and the Yueyang Tower. These storeyed buildings typically have encircling corridors or balustrades on each floor to enjoy panoramic views.

Storeyed Pavilion

Though similar to lou, a ge, the storeyed pavilion of Chinese architecture stands apart with windows on every side and an outdoor balcony that allows leisurely walks with unobstructed views. Don’t miss Tengwang Pavilion, a Tang Dynasty masterpiece immortalized in poetry.

Chinese House Architecture 

China has a rich variety of creative house architecture across its regions, and each style reflects ingenious adaptations to local climates, resources, and cultural traditions.

Siheyuan

Chinese siheyuan architecture is a traditional northern Chinese architecture among residential houses. Also known as Chinese hutong architecture for being nestled in hutongs, this courtyard-style architecture has a layout of four buildings enclosing a central garden, hierarchical yet harmonious.

Stilt Houses‌

It is a traditional vernacular dwelling of the ‌Miao, Zhuang, and Bouyei ethnic groups‌, characterized by its ‌semi-pile-dwelling structure‌. The main house is built on solid ground, while subsidiary rooms are partially suspended and supported by wooden pillars, adapting to mountainous terrain and humid climates. When traveling to Fenghuang Ancient Town, you'll be amazed by this unique type of Chinese architecture.

Fujian Tulou

Fujian Tulou is one of the most distinctive traditional dwellings in China. This Chinese architecture has a giant fortress-like structure enclosed by rammed earth walls with either circular or square layouts that contain complete living facilities, including dwellings, granaries, and wells. Their super-thick rammed earth walls (reinforced with wood) kept enemies out while the smart circular layout kept families together in perfect harmony.

Southern Anhui Dwellings

As a representative of southern Chinese residential architecture, Southern Anhui dwellings, such as Hongcun and Xidi villages in Yi County, have black tiles, white walls, and horse-head gables. These Hui-style houses feature tall walls enclosing deep courtyards and inward-facing courtyards centered around a deep skywell, with high perimeter walls obscuring roof views from outside. 

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Examples of Ancient Chinese Architecture

Forbidden City

The Forbidden City, the world's grandest ancient wooden palace complex from China's Ming and Qing eras, is one of the most representative examples of Chinese imperial architecture. The whole place is perfectly symmetrical. Every detail—from the dragon-carved marble terraces to the symbolic yellow tiles reserved for emperors—whispers imperial power. 

Temple of Heaven

On Beijing tours, visit Temple of Heaven. This ancient Chinese architecture is one of the world’s largest buildings used for heaven worship. It features a uniquely symbolic layout and design. Its double enclosure walls form a circular northern section and a square southern section, while all main structures adopt circular plans with square brick exteriors. All symbolize the ancient Chinese cosmological concept of "round heaven and square earth."

Big Wild Goose Pagoda 

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an is one of the most famous Chinese pagoda architectures. It was originally built to preserve the Buddhist scriptures and statues brought back to Chang'an by Monk Xuanzang from India after his Silk Road tour. What's special is that the whole pagoda is made of blue bricks carefully stacked to look like wooden buildings, with no cement used. 

Humble Administrator's Garden

Ranked among the top classical gardens in Suzhou, Humble Administrator's Garden is one of the most beautiful Chinese architecture. It doesn't use straight lines or symmetrical designs like other Chinese gardens. Instead, all buildings follow the natural shape of water and land. The designers made clever windows and round doors that work like picture frames. When you walk through, you see different beautiful views like a slideshow. 

Mogao Caves

This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the largest and most content-rich Chinese grotto architecture. This famous Chinese architecture displays rich and diverse architectural forms, including central-pillar caves, square caves, rectangular caves, monastic cell caves, and nirvana caves. The caves vary greatly in size, with the ceilings exquisitely decorated, often painted with lotus flowers, flying apsaras, and other patterns.

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Chinese vs Japanese Architecture

If you wonder what the difference is between Chinese and Japanese architecture, here is the answer. Chinese architecture emphasizes axial symmetry and bilateral balance. Its enclosed and weighty spaces symbolize cosmic order, while materials like glazed tiles and gilded copper tiles demonstrate nobility and hierarchy. Meanwhile, Japanese architecture, though originally influenced by China, developed its own style to be lighter and more flexible, which can be seen in raised wooden floors, sliding paper doors, and curved roofs with decorative crossed beams. 

At the same time, why Chinese and Japanese architecture are similar can be explained by their shared historical exchanges, as seen in temples and decorations. China's mythical dragons and phoenixes contrast with Japan's friendly fox statues, showing how each culture imagined divine protection. 

Modern Chinese Architecture

Today, China dazzles visitors with its futuristic skyline, from the monumental Bird's Nest National Stadium to the record-breaking CITIC Tower, the soaring Shanghai Tower, the instantly recognizable Oriental Pearl Tower, and Guangzhou's Canton Tower (ranking among the world's tallest observation decks). These Chinese architectures demonstrate China's bold vision and engineering excellence on the world stage.

Explore Chinese Architecture with ETC

If you are fascinated by Chinese architecture, why not explore it with Easy Tour China? We've been creating amazing China tour packages for over 20 years, helping visitors from abroad discover the best of China. Check out some of our best China tours.

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