To　protect　Chinese　ancient　timber　buildings　effectively,　three　types　of　Tou-kungs　(bracket　sets)　in　Tai-he　Palace　in　the　Forbidden　City-intermediate　set,　column　set,　and　corner　set　were　taken　as　examples　to　study　bearing　performances　of　Chinese　ancient　Tou-kung　of　Qing　Dynasty　under　vertical　loads.　Based　on　constituent　characteristics　of　the　Tou-kungs,　the　1:　2　scaled　models　were　built,　on　which　experiments　of　vertical　loading　were　carried　out.　By　experiments,　damage　modes,　internal　forces,　and　deformation　of　the　Tou-kungs　were　discussed.　Then,　calculation　model　of　vertical　stiffness　of　the　Tou-kungs　were　deduced.　Results　show　that　under　vertical　loads,　the　Tou-kungs　are　easy　to　be　damaged　on　the　top　two-layer　parts.　Compared　to　the　underparts,　the　upper　parts　of　the　Tou-kungs　bear　more　forces.　For　different　Tou-kungs,　intermediate　set,　corner　set,　and　column　set　on　ultimate　bearing　capacity;　corner　set,　column　set,　and　intermediate　set　on　ductility.　Under　vertical　loads,　calculation　model　of　vertical　stiffness　of　the　Tou-kungs　can　be　simplied　as　three-part　line　segments.　©　2016　Taylor　&　Francis　Group,　London.