During the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.), the wooden pillars were replaced by some stone ones. These stone pillars, however, gradually lost their purpose of soliciting public criticism and became decorative columns to imperial buildings.

Probably the most famous ornamental pillars are the four columns called "Huabiao" (beautifully engraved pillar) that stand near Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. They have been long regarded as one of the symbols of the country. Standing at each side of Tian'anmen (the Gate of Heavenly Peace), there is a pair of marble pillars entwined by a carved dragon. Each pillar bears a squatting exotic animal known as "kong" in Chinese mythology. The two kongs in front of Tian'anmen are called "wangjungui" (watching out for the emperor's return), and the other two behind the gate "wangjunchu" (watching out for the emperor's progress). Their duty is said to supervise an emperor's behavior either in the Forbidden City or away for inspection. To some extent, these pillars still served their original purposes to remind an emperor of his responsibility for the state's good.

Other ornamental pillars can also be noticed in ancient imperial palaces, gardens, as well as mausoleums. Served as a kind of ornament themselves, they are usually decorated with images of such holy creatures as dragons, phoenixes, kylins (Chinese unicorns) and bixie (evil-spirit exorciser in mythology), which are believed to be capable of warding off evil spirits.