該閣(ge)建(jian)于明洪(hong)武年間,為3層重檐斗拱建(jian)筑,由36根(gen)高大(da)(da)(da)的圓柱支撐,頂(ding)部(bu)全(quan)是(shi)梁架(jia)半拱,漸(jian)次往上收攏成八卦形(xing),至(zhi)屋頂(ding)為太極圖。屋頂(ding)系金黃琉璃瓦(wa)鋪就(jiu),外觀(guan)飛檐翅角,看上去端莊大(da)(da)(da)方,氣勢雄(xiong)偉。樓內有(you)精美的壁畫,泥塑和浮雕,樓前有(you)兩亭一(yi)臺,還有(you)3棵枝繁(fan)葉茂的大(da)(da)(da)青(qing)樹,旁(pang)邊有(you)太清仙(xian)境、玄帝觀(guan)、文昌宮等(deng)建(jian)筑,為保(bao)山(shan)的八景(jing)之一(yi)。十分(fen)玄妙的是(shi),玉皇閣(ge)的第二層掛有(you)一(yi)塊匾(bian),從正面(mian)看是(shi) “至(zhi)誠(cheng)無息(xi)”朱黃色大(da)(da)(da)字;從左邊看是(shi)“龍飛鳳舞(wu)”紅綠色大(da)(da)(da)字;從右(you)邊看則(ze)是(shi)“海晏河清”褐(he)紅色大(da)(da)(da)字,實為奇(qi)中之奇(qi),至(zhi)今無人(ren)能(neng)說得清其(qi)中的奧妙,充分(fen)反映了古代(dai)勞動人(ren)民的聰明才智。
據《永昌府(fu)志(zhi)》載,玉皇閣為(wei)明(ming)嘉靖二十四(si)(si)(si)年(nian)(公元(yuan)1545年(nian))郡人(ren)馮君魯在原毗盧(lu)閣廢址上(shang)所建,現(xian)存大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)及大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)前(qian)丹墀兩側之(zhi)鐘鼓(gu)二亭。大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)矗(chu)立在鑲嵌青石浮雕的高(gao)臺基座上(shang),基座平面(mian)(mian)401平方(fang)米(mi),高(gao)闊(kuo)方(fang)直,呈灰青色(se)調,給(gei)人(ren)以素雅博大(da)(da)之(zhi)感。其(qi)上(shang)所承(cheng)大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)為(wei)三(san)重(zhong)檐(yan)歇山(shan)頂(ding)(ding)(ding),早(zao)先(xian)曾塑(su)玉皇金身座像和四(si)(si)(si)大(da)(da)真人(ren)巨(ju)型立像。大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)面(mian)(mian)闊(kuo)5間(jian),23米(mi);進深5間(jian),17米(mi)。下有(you)六六三(san)十六根大(da)(da)柱舉架(jia)支撐(cheng),中柱通高(gao)13.6米(mi)。明(ming)間(jian)和次間(jian)之(zhi)間(jian)采用(yong)(yong)移(yi)柱法將中柱后移(yi),以擴寬殿(dian)(dian)堂中央空(kong)(kong)間(jian);穹頂(ding)(ding)(ding)呈覆斗(dou)形八卦(gua)藻井,頂(ding)(ding)(ding)面(mian)(mian)繪(hui)太極圖(tu);殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)壁畫飄逸多姿,一派仙(xian)家氣(qi)象;格子(zi)門勻雕有(you)動物(wu)、花卉,空(kong)(kong)靈娟(juan)秀。殿(dian)(dian)頂(ding)(ding)(ding)通覆黃(huang)色(se)琉(liu)璃瓦,正脊飾以寶頂(ding)(ding)(ding)、禽獸、鴟吻(wen)(wen),垂脊亦作花飾、尾(wei)吻(wen)(wen),四(si)(si)(si)角懸(xuan)(xuan)以風鈴。三(san)重(zhong)檐(yan)下均懸(xuan)(xuan)巨(ju)匾,尤其(qi)是二層檐(yan)口懸(xuan)(xuan)掛的四(si)(si)(si)塊木質(zhi)浮雕彩繪(hui)的單字(zi)(zi)匾引(yin)人(ren)注(zhu)目,正視(shi)為(wei)“至誠(cheng)無息”四(si)(si)(si)個(ge)朱黃(huang)大(da)(da)字(zi)(zi),右(you)側(北)視(shi)為(wei)“龍飛鳳舞(wu)”四(si)(si)(si)個(ge)紅(hong)綠色(se)大(da)(da)字(zi)(zi),左側(南)視(shi)為(wei)“諸神參天”四(si)(si)(si)個(ge)紅(hong)褐色(se)大(da)(da)字(zi)(zi),一匾而三(san)用(yong)(yong),建筑師匠(jiang)心獨運,由(you)此可見(jian)一斑。殿(dian)(dian)前(qian)兩側為(wei)鐘鼓(gu)二亭,昔時亭內(nei)懸(xuan)(xuan)鐘架(jia)鼓(gu),朝暮為(wei)聲;大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)北鄰之(zhi)會真樓(lou),為(wei)徐霞客(ke)當年(nian)游(you)歷保(bao)山(shan)下榻處所。
云(yun)南(nan)保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)太(tai)保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)門,太(tai)保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)景區(qu)有玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣、玉(yu)(yu)佛殿(dian)、角亭(ting)龍雕(diao)、山(shan)(shan)頂戲(xi)樓、山(shan)(shan)頂武侯祠、石楠樹(shu)(shu)、印(yin)度榕、同心(xin)樹(shu)(shu)、二十(shi)四節氣石刻等(deng)景點(dian)。玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣位于太(tai)保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)門不(bu)遠處,緊鄰玉(yu)(yu)佛殿(dian),始建(jian)于明代,經歷代修葺建(jian)設終成今天的規(gui)模(mo)。保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)太(tai)保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣有麒麟、鐘鼓(gu)亭(ting)、金鑾(luan)寶(bao)殿(dian)、山(shan)(shan)神殿(dian)、三(san)官殿(dian)等(deng)景點(dian)。其莊嚴(yan)超(chao)拔的氣勢(shi)、精妙至極(ji)的建(jian)筑(zhu)工藝令人贊嘆,可謂古“西南(nan)絲綢(chou)之路”重鎮一顆光耀奪目的古建(jian)筑(zhu)瑰寶(bao)。玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣曾經是保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)市博物(wu)館所在地。后改為宗教活(huo)動(dong)場所,現為隆(long)陽區(qu)道(dao)協所在地。 2006年05月25日(ri),保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣作為明代古建(jian)筑(zhu),被國務院批(pi)準列入第六批(pi)全國重點(dian)文物(wu)保(bao)(bao)護單(dan)位名(ming)單(dan)。