To　effectively　protect　Chinese　ancient　building,　its　single　layer　gable　and　hip　roof　type　is　taken　as　example,　the　seismic　performances　under　high　intensity　earthquakes　are　studied　by　shaking　table　tests.　According　to　rules　of　Building　Codes　in　QING　dynasty,　referring　constitutions　of　a　single　layer　gable　and　hip　roof　type　building　in　the　Forbidden　City,　a　model　of　Chinese　ancient　10th　level　standard　is　built.　The　model　includes　free-standing　column　root,　tenon-mortise　connection　between　beams　and　columns,　tou-kung　(bracket　sets),　beam　system,　tile　roof,　filler　walls　and　so　on.　Then　the　1940　El-centro　earthquake　waves　in　horizontal　directions　are　applied　to　the　model,　the　intensity　are　gradually　increased　to　very　high　level.　Experimental　phenomena　of　different　constitutions　of　the　model　and　analyzed,　the　damage　symptoms　are　also　investigated　in　detail.　Results　show　that　under　high　intensity　earthquakes,　the　column　structure,　the　tou-kung,　the　beam　system　and　the　roof　vibrate　as　synchronous　motion　of　slow　sway.　Main　damage　symptoms　of　the　structure　include　column　root　deviates　from　its　origin　position,　tenon　pulled　out　of　mortise,　cracks　appear　on　tenon-mortise　joints,　part　of　tou-kung　components　deviate　from　their　origin　positions,　disconnection　between　the　tie　beam　and　its　cushion　board,　collapse　of　filler　walls　and　so　on.　However　the　damages　are　not　serious,　nor　does　the　timber　structure　collapse.　The　seismic　performances　of　Chinese　ancient　building　under　high　intensity　earthquakes　relate　closely　to　its　constitution　characteristics.　©　2018,　Editorial　Office　of　China　Civil　Engineering　Journal.　All　right　reserved.