Paifang (牌坊), also called Pailou (牌楼), is a traditional Chinese architectural form like an archway. Originally the Paifang served as a marker for the entrance of a building complex or a town; but by the Song Dynasty it had evolved into a purely decorative monument.

Paifang comes in a number of forms. One form involves placing wooden pillars onto stone bases, and bound together with wooden beams. This type of Paifang is always beautifully decorated, with the pillars usually painted in red, the beams decorated with intricate designs and Chinese calligraphy, and the roof covered with coloured tiles, complete with mythical beasts - just like a Chinese palace.

Another form of Paifang is in the form of true archways made of stone or bricks; the walls may be painted in white or red, or decorated with coloured tiles; the top of the archways are decorated like their wooden counterparts.

Yet another form of Paifang, built mainly on religious and burial grounds, consists of plain white stone pillars and beams, with neither roof tiles nor any coloured decoration, but feature elaborate carvings created by master masons.

Outside China the Paifang has long been the symbol of Chinatowns.

See also

• Chinese architecture