該(gai)閣建(jian)(jian)于明(ming)洪武年(nian)間(jian),為(wei)3層重檐斗拱(gong)建(jian)(jian)筑,由36根高大(da)的(de)(de)(de)圓柱支撐,頂部全是(shi)(shi)梁架半拱(gong),漸次往上(shang)收攏成八(ba)卦形,至屋(wu)頂為(wei)太(tai)極圖。屋(wu)頂系金黃(huang)琉璃瓦鋪就,外(wai)觀飛檐翅角,看上(shang)去端莊大(da)方,氣勢(shi)雄偉。樓(lou)內有精美的(de)(de)(de)壁畫,泥塑和浮雕,樓(lou)前有兩(liang)亭一(yi)臺,還有3棵枝繁葉茂的(de)(de)(de)大(da)青樹,旁邊(bian)(bian)有太(tai)清(qing)仙境(jing)、玄帝觀、文昌宮(gong)等建(jian)(jian)筑,為(wei)保山的(de)(de)(de)八(ba)景之一(yi)。十分玄妙(miao)的(de)(de)(de)是(shi)(shi),玉皇閣的(de)(de)(de)第(di)二層掛(gua)有一(yi)塊匾,從(cong)正(zheng)面看是(shi)(shi) “至誠(cheng)無(wu)息”朱黃(huang)色(se)(se)大(da)字(zi);從(cong)左邊(bian)(bian)看是(shi)(shi)“龍(long)飛鳳舞(wu)”紅(hong)綠(lv)色(se)(se)大(da)字(zi);從(cong)右邊(bian)(bian)看則是(shi)(shi)“海晏(yan)河清(qing)”褐(he)紅(hong)色(se)(se)大(da)字(zi),實為(wei)奇中之奇,至今無(wu)人能說(shuo)得清(qing)其中的(de)(de)(de)奧妙(miao),充分反映了古代勞動人民(min)的(de)(de)(de)聰(cong)明(ming)才智。
據《永昌府志(zhi)》載,玉皇閣為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)明(ming)嘉靖(jing)二十(shi)四年(公元(yuan)1545年)郡人(ren)馮君(jun)魯(lu)在原毗盧閣廢址(zhi)上(shang)(shang)(shang)所(suo)建,現存大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)及大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前丹墀兩(liang)側(ce)之鐘(zhong)鼓(gu)(gu)二亭。大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)矗立在鑲嵌青(qing)石浮(fu)雕的(de)高(gao)(gao)臺(tai)基座上(shang)(shang)(shang),基座平面(mian)(mian)401平方米(mi),高(gao)(gao)闊(kuo)方直,呈(cheng)(cheng)灰青(qing)色(se)調(diao),給(gei)人(ren)以(yi)(yi)(yi)素雅博大(da)(da)之感(gan)。其(qi)(qi)上(shang)(shang)(shang)所(suo)承大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)三重檐(yan)歇山(shan)頂(ding)(ding)(ding),早先曾(ceng)塑(su)玉皇金身座像和(he)四大(da)(da)真人(ren)巨(ju)型立像。大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)面(mian)(mian)闊(kuo)5間,23米(mi);進(jin)深5間,17米(mi)。下有六(liu)六(liu)三十(shi)六(liu)根大(da)(da)柱舉(ju)架支撐(cheng),中柱通高(gao)(gao)13.6米(mi)。明(ming)間和(he)次間之間采用(yong)移(yi)柱法將(jiang)中柱后(hou)移(yi),以(yi)(yi)(yi)擴寬(kuan)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)堂中央空(kong)間;穹頂(ding)(ding)(ding)呈(cheng)(cheng)覆(fu)斗(dou)形八卦藻(zao)井,頂(ding)(ding)(ding)面(mian)(mian)繪太極(ji)圖;殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內壁畫飄逸多姿(zi),一(yi)派仙(xian)家氣象;格(ge)子門勻雕有動(dong)物、花卉,空(kong)靈娟秀。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)頂(ding)(ding)(ding)通覆(fu)黃(huang)色(se)琉璃(li)瓦,正脊飾(shi)以(yi)(yi)(yi)寶(bao)頂(ding)(ding)(ding)、禽(qin)獸、鴟吻,垂脊亦作花飾(shi)、尾吻,四角懸以(yi)(yi)(yi)風鈴。三重檐(yan)下均懸巨(ju)匾,尤(you)其(qi)(qi)是(shi)二層(ceng)檐(yan)口(kou)懸掛(gua)的(de)四塊(kuai)木質浮(fu)雕彩(cai)繪的(de)單字(zi)匾引人(ren)注目,正視(shi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)“至誠無(wu)息”四個朱黃(huang)大(da)(da)字(zi),右側(ce)(北(bei))視(shi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)“龍飛鳳舞”四個紅綠(lv)色(se)大(da)(da)字(zi),左側(ce)(南)視(shi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)“諸(zhu)神參天”四個紅褐色(se)大(da)(da)字(zi),一(yi)匾而三用(yong),建筑師(shi)匠心獨運,由此可(ke)見一(yi)斑。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前兩(liang)側(ce)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)鐘(zhong)鼓(gu)(gu)二亭,昔時亭內懸鐘(zhong)架鼓(gu)(gu),朝暮為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)聲(sheng);大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)北(bei)鄰之會真樓,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)徐霞客當年游歷保(bao)山(shan)下榻處所(suo)。
云南保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)太保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)門(men),太保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)景區有(you)玉(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)、玉(yu)佛(fo)殿、角亭龍(long)雕、山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂(ding)戲樓(lou)、山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂(ding)武侯祠(ci)、石楠樹、印度榕(rong)、同(tong)心樹、二(er)十(shi)四(si)節氣(qi)石刻等景點(dian)。玉(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)位(wei)于太保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)門(men)不遠處,緊(jin)鄰玉(yu)佛(fo)殿,始(shi)建(jian)(jian)于明(ming)代(dai),經歷(li)代(dai)修葺建(jian)(jian)設(she)終成今天的規模。保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)太保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)玉(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)有(you)麒(qi)麟、鐘鼓亭、金(jin)鑾寶(bao)殿、山(shan)(shan)(shan)神殿、三官殿等景點(dian)。其莊嚴(yan)超拔的氣(qi)勢、精妙至極(ji)的建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)工藝令人贊嘆,可謂(wei)古(gu)“西南絲綢之路”重鎮(zhen)一顆光耀奪目的古(gu)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)瑰寶(bao)。玉(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)曾(ceng)經是保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)市(shi)博物(wu)館所在(zai)(zai)地(di)。后(hou)改(gai)為(wei)宗(zong)教活(huo)動場所,現為(wei)隆陽區道協所在(zai)(zai)地(di)。 2006年05月(yue)25日,保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)玉(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)作為(wei)明(ming)代(dai)古(gu)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu),被(bei)國務院批準列入(ru)第六批全國重點(dian)文物(wu)保(bao)(bao)(bao)護單位(wei)名單。