該閣建(jian)于明洪武年間,為3層重檐(yan)斗拱(gong)建(jian)筑(zhu),由36根高大的(de)圓柱支撐,頂(ding)部全是梁架半拱(gong),漸次往(wang)上(shang)收攏成八卦形,至(zhi)屋(wu)頂(ding)為太極(ji)圖。屋(wu)頂(ding)系金黃琉璃瓦鋪就,外觀飛檐(yan)翅角(jiao),看(kan)上(shang)去端莊大方,氣勢雄偉。樓內有精美(mei)的(de)壁(bi)畫,泥塑(su)和浮雕,樓前(qian)有兩亭(ting)一臺,還有3棵枝繁葉茂的(de)大青樹,旁(pang)邊(bian)有太清(qing)(qing)仙(xian)境、玄帝觀、文昌宮(gong)等(deng)建(jian)筑(zhu),為保山的(de)八景之一。十(shi)分玄妙(miao)的(de)是,玉(yu)皇閣的(de)第二層掛有一塊匾,從正面(mian)看(kan)是 “至(zhi)誠無息”朱黃色大字;從左邊(bian)看(kan)是“龍飛鳳舞”紅綠色大字;從右邊(bian)看(kan)則是“海晏河清(qing)(qing)”褐紅色大字,實為奇中(zhong)之奇,至(zhi)今無人(ren)能(neng)說得清(qing)(qing)其中(zhong)的(de)奧妙(miao),充分反映(ying)了(le)古代(dai)勞動人(ren)民的(de)聰明才(cai)智。
據《永昌(chang)府志》載(zai),玉皇閣(ge)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)明嘉靖二(er)十四(si)年(nian)(nian)(公元1545年(nian)(nian))郡人(ren)馮君魯在原毗盧閣(ge)廢址上(shang)所建(jian),現存(cun)大殿(dian)(dian)(dian)及大殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前丹墀兩側之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)鐘鼓(gu)二(er)亭(ting)。大殿(dian)(dian)(dian)矗立在鑲嵌青石浮雕(diao)的高臺基(ji)座上(shang),基(ji)座平面(mian)401平方米(mi)(mi)(mi),高闊方直,呈(cheng)灰青色(se)調(diao),給人(ren)以素雅(ya)博(bo)大之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)感。其(qi)上(shang)所承大殿(dian)(dian)(dian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)三(san)重檐歇山頂,早先曾塑玉皇金身座像和四(si)大真(zhen)人(ren)巨(ju)(ju)型立像。大殿(dian)(dian)(dian)面(mian)闊5間,23米(mi)(mi)(mi);進深5間,17米(mi)(mi)(mi)。下(xia)有(you)六六三(san)十六根(gen)大柱(zhu)舉架(jia)支撐,中(zhong)柱(zhu)通高13.6米(mi)(mi)(mi)。明間和次間之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)間采用移柱(zhu)法將中(zhong)柱(zhu)后移,以擴寬殿(dian)(dian)(dian)堂中(zhong)央空間;穹頂呈(cheng)覆(fu)(fu)斗形八卦藻井,頂面(mian)繪(hui)太極(ji)圖(tu);殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)(nei)壁畫飄逸多姿,一派仙家氣(qi)象(xiang);格子門勻(yun)雕(diao)有(you)動物、花(hua)卉,空靈(ling)娟秀。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)頂通覆(fu)(fu)黃(huang)色(se)琉璃瓦,正脊(ji)飾以寶頂、禽(qin)獸、鴟(chi)吻,垂(chui)脊(ji)亦作(zuo)花(hua)飾、尾吻,四(si)角懸(xuan)(xuan)以風鈴。三(san)重檐下(xia)均懸(xuan)(xuan)巨(ju)(ju)匾,尤其(qi)是二(er)層檐口(kou)懸(xuan)(xuan)掛(gua)的四(si)塊木質浮雕(diao)彩繪(hui)的單字(zi)匾引(yin)人(ren)注目,正視(shi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)“至誠無(wu)息(xi)”四(si)個朱(zhu)黃(huang)大字(zi),右側(北(bei))視(shi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)“龍(long)飛鳳舞”四(si)個紅綠色(se)大字(zi),左側(南)視(shi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)“諸(zhu)神(shen)參天”四(si)個紅褐色(se)大字(zi),一匾而三(san)用,建(jian)筑師匠心獨運,由此可見一斑。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前兩側為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)鐘鼓(gu)二(er)亭(ting),昔時亭(ting)內(nei)(nei)懸(xuan)(xuan)鐘架(jia)鼓(gu),朝暮為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)聲;大殿(dian)(dian)(dian)北(bei)鄰之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)會真(zhen)樓,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)徐霞客當年(nian)(nian)游歷保山下(xia)榻處所。
云南保(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)太(tai)保(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)門(men),太(tai)保(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)景區有玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣、玉(yu)(yu)佛(fo)殿(dian)、角亭龍(long)雕、山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)頂(ding)戲(xi)樓、山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)頂(ding)武侯(hou)祠(ci)、石楠樹(shu)、印(yin)度榕、同心樹(shu)、二十(shi)四節氣石刻等(deng)景點(dian)。玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣位(wei)于(yu)太(tai)保(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)門(men)不遠處,緊鄰玉(yu)(yu)佛(fo)殿(dian),始建(jian)(jian)于(yu)明代(dai),經(jing)(jing)歷代(dai)修葺建(jian)(jian)設終成今天的(de)(de)規(gui)模。保(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)太(tai)保(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣有麒麟、鐘鼓亭、金鑾寶殿(dian)、山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)神殿(dian)、三官殿(dian)等(deng)景點(dian)。其莊嚴超拔的(de)(de)氣勢、精妙至極的(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)筑工(gong)藝令人贊嘆,可謂古(gu)“西南絲綢(chou)之路”重鎮一顆光耀奪目的(de)(de)古(gu)建(jian)(jian)筑瑰寶。玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣曾(ceng)經(jing)(jing)是保(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)市博物館所(suo)(suo)在(zai)地(di)。后改為(wei)宗教活(huo)動(dong)場(chang)所(suo)(suo),現為(wei)隆陽區道協所(suo)(suo)在(zai)地(di)。 2006年05月25日,保(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣作為(wei)明代(dai)古(gu)建(jian)(jian)筑,被國(guo)務院批(pi)準列入第六批(pi)全(quan)國(guo)重點(dian)文物保(bao)護單(dan)位(wei)名單(dan)。