該閣(ge)建(jian)于明(ming)洪武年間,為(wei)3層重檐(yan)斗拱(gong)建(jian)筑,由(you)36根高大的(de)(de)(de)圓柱支撐(cheng),頂(ding)部全是(shi)梁架半拱(gong),漸(jian)次(ci)往上收(shou)攏成八(ba)卦(gua)形,至(zhi)屋頂(ding)為(wei)太(tai)(tai)極(ji)圖。屋頂(ding)系(xi)金黃(huang)琉璃瓦鋪就(jiu),外觀飛檐(yan)翅角,看(kan)(kan)上去端莊大方,氣勢雄偉。樓(lou)內(nei)有精美的(de)(de)(de)壁畫,泥塑和(he)浮(fu)雕,樓(lou)前有兩亭一臺(tai),還有3棵枝繁葉茂(mao)的(de)(de)(de)大青樹,旁(pang)邊有太(tai)(tai)清仙境、玄帝觀、文昌宮等建(jian)筑,為(wei)保(bao)山的(de)(de)(de)八(ba)景之一。十分玄妙的(de)(de)(de)是(shi),玉(yu)皇閣(ge)的(de)(de)(de)第(di)二層掛(gua)有一塊(kuai)匾,從(cong)正面看(kan)(kan)是(shi) “至(zhi)誠無息”朱黃(huang)色大字(zi)(zi);從(cong)左邊看(kan)(kan)是(shi)“龍飛鳳舞”紅綠色大字(zi)(zi);從(cong)右邊看(kan)(kan)則是(shi)“海(hai)晏河清”褐紅色大字(zi)(zi),實為(wei)奇中(zhong)之奇,至(zhi)今無人能說(shuo)得(de)清其(qi)中(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)奧(ao)妙,充(chong)分反映(ying)了古代勞動人民的(de)(de)(de)聰明(ming)才智。
據《永昌府(fu)志》載,玉(yu)皇閣(ge)為(wei)(wei)明嘉靖(jing)二(er)十四(si)年(公元1545年)郡人(ren)(ren)馮君魯在(zai)原毗(pi)盧閣(ge)廢址上所建,現存大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)及大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前丹墀兩側(ce)之(zhi)鐘(zhong)鼓二(er)亭。大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)矗立(li)在(zai)鑲嵌青(qing)石(shi)浮(fu)雕(diao)的(de)(de)高臺基座(zuo)上,基座(zuo)平面401平方(fang)米,高闊方(fang)直,呈(cheng)灰(hui)青(qing)色調(diao),給人(ren)(ren)以素(su)雅博大(da)(da)(da)之(zhi)感(gan)。其上所承大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)為(wei)(wei)三(san)(san)重檐(yan)歇(xie)山頂(ding)(ding),早先曾(ceng)塑(su)玉(yu)皇金(jin)身座(zuo)像(xiang)和四(si)大(da)(da)(da)真人(ren)(ren)巨型立(li)像(xiang)。大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)面闊5間(jian),23米;進深5間(jian),17米。下有六六三(san)(san)十六根大(da)(da)(da)柱舉架支撐,中柱通高13.6米。明間(jian)和次(ci)間(jian)之(zhi)間(jian)采用(yong)移柱法將中柱后移,以擴寬殿(dian)(dian)(dian)堂中央空間(jian);穹(qiong)頂(ding)(ding)呈(cheng)覆(fu)(fu)斗(dou)形(xing)八卦(gua)藻井,頂(ding)(ding)面繪(hui)(hui)太極圖;殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)壁畫飄逸(yi)多姿,一(yi)派仙家氣(qi)象;格子門勻雕(diao)有動物、花卉,空靈娟秀。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)頂(ding)(ding)通覆(fu)(fu)黃(huang)色琉璃瓦,正脊飾以寶頂(ding)(ding)、禽獸、鴟吻,垂脊亦作花飾、尾(wei)吻,四(si)角懸(xuan)(xuan)以風鈴。三(san)(san)重檐(yan)下均懸(xuan)(xuan)巨匾(bian),尤(you)其是二(er)層檐(yan)口懸(xuan)(xuan)掛的(de)(de)四(si)塊木質(zhi)浮(fu)雕(diao)彩繪(hui)(hui)的(de)(de)單(dan)字(zi)匾(bian)引人(ren)(ren)注目,正視為(wei)(wei)“至誠無息”四(si)個朱黃(huang)大(da)(da)(da)字(zi),右側(ce)(北(bei))視為(wei)(wei)“龍飛鳳舞(wu)”四(si)個紅綠色大(da)(da)(da)字(zi),左側(ce)(南)視為(wei)(wei)“諸神(shen)參天”四(si)個紅褐色大(da)(da)(da)字(zi),一(yi)匾(bian)而三(san)(san)用(yong),建筑師匠心獨運,由此可(ke)見一(yi)斑。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前兩側(ce)為(wei)(wei)鐘(zhong)鼓二(er)亭,昔時亭內(nei)懸(xuan)(xuan)鐘(zhong)架鼓,朝暮為(wei)(wei)聲;大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)北(bei)鄰之(zhi)會真樓,為(wei)(wei)徐霞客當年游歷保(bao)山下榻處所。
云南(nan)保(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)太(tai)保(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)門,太(tai)保(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)景區有玉(yu)(yu)(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)、玉(yu)(yu)(yu)佛殿、角亭龍雕、山(shan)(shan)頂(ding)(ding)戲(xi)樓、山(shan)(shan)頂(ding)(ding)武侯祠、石楠(nan)樹(shu)、印度榕、同心樹(shu)、二十四節氣石刻等景點。玉(yu)(yu)(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)位于太(tai)保(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)門不遠處,緊(jin)鄰玉(yu)(yu)(yu)佛殿,始建(jian)于明(ming)代(dai),經歷代(dai)修葺建(jian)設終(zhong)成(cheng)今天的規模。保(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)太(tai)保(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)玉(yu)(yu)(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)有麒麟、鐘鼓亭、金鑾寶殿、山(shan)(shan)神(shen)殿、三官殿等景點。其莊(zhuang)嚴超拔的氣勢、精妙至極的建(jian)筑(zhu)工藝令人贊(zan)嘆,可謂古“西南(nan)絲綢之路”重(zhong)鎮一(yi)顆光(guang)耀(yao)奪目的古建(jian)筑(zhu)瑰寶。玉(yu)(yu)(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)曾經是(shi)保(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)市博物館所(suo)在地。后改為(wei)宗教活(huo)動場所(suo),現為(wei)隆陽區道協(xie)所(suo)在地。 2006年05月25日,保(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)玉(yu)(yu)(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)作為(wei)明(ming)代(dai)古建(jian)筑(zhu),被(bei)國務(wu)院批準列入第六批全國重(zhong)點文物保(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)護單(dan)位名單(dan)。