Guo Kaoting's Former Residence

Guo Kaoting's Former Residence

Guo Kaoting's Former Residence is a cultural tourism attraction.

Guo Kaoting's Former Residence

The Guo Family Ancestral Home, also known as Da Fu Di, is a typical Qing Dynasty courtyard structure situated on present-day East Second Road of North Pass. The complex includes five buildings—two main houses and three wing rooms—with a total floor space of 376 square meters and currently houses 10 families. It was constructed during the Kangxi period by Guo Songlu. The elegance and exquisite detail of the courtyard permeate every element. The carvings are exquisitely fine, with patterns arranged in harmonious complexity. Upturned eaves, corridor pillars, coiled dragons, and flower basket ornaments—all serving as protective talismans for the home—are meticulously crafted.

After several turns, the carved embellishments on the eaves remain, and an aura of antiquity lingers in the air. Before you stands this grand and dignified traditional courtyard—this is the Guo Family Compound.

Guided by the 14th-generation descendant of the Guo family, Guo Deyong, the authentic essence of this family’s legacy gradually blends into our footsteps, reviving memories we are quietly losing.

Guo Kaoting's Former Residence is a typical Qing Dynasty courtyard building, with its architectural form well preserved. As a late Qing residential structure, it holds heritage value. Guo Kaoting, a businessman in the late Qing period, once operated “Tianbao Pawnshop” and a “grocery store.” The property includes five buildings—two main houses and three wing rooms—totaling approximately 376 square meters. It is currently used as residential housing, housing 10 private households.

Historical records indicate that the Guo family originated from Penglai, Shandong. In the tenth year of the Ming Chongzhen era, their ancestors led their clan on military ships across the sea to arrive at Manchuria’s Minzhi Mountain Fort, where they pledged allegiance to the Manchu Qing. Nurhaci bestowed upon their troops the title of “Tianyou Army.” In the 22nd year of Kangxi’s reign, the Guo family’s Tianyou Army, commanding naval forces, joined Sabusu in a northern campaign against the Russians (referred to as "Luosha"), engaging in fierce battles and recapturing Albazin. Following the victory in the Battle of Albazin, Sabusu was appointed as the General of Heilongjiang. Members of the Guo family who participated in the campaign moved to Qiqihar with Sabusu, and Emperor Kangxi personally granted them the title of Da Fu Di.

“Originally, the Guo family estate covered 6,000 square meters, consisting of a complete courtyard complex. Along the street were six

east-facing storage rooms and a gatehouse. From south to north were ‘Tianbao Hao,’ ‘Tianbao Dang,’ and ‘Da Fu Di,’ each marked with blue plaques bearing golden characters. The houses were connected by decorative walls, moon gates, and bluestone pathways. Passing through the second gate led to the living quarters. On either side of the partition doors were couplets inscribed by Weng Tonghe, teacher of Emperor Guangxu, for Guo Songlu: ‘Reflect on benefiting all things; in all matters, seek what brings peace to your heart.’ Other plaques in the courtyard bore inscriptions such as ‘A Family of Virtue’ and ‘Virtue That Lives On in Memory.’ At the north city gate, there was also an ancestral shrine, which, in the 1930s, hosted gatherings of over a hundred people.” Guo Deyong, who often heard his mother recount the family’s past, has since moved elsewhere but, bound by historical ties, still frequently visits the old homestead.

The Guo family produced many notable figures. During the Qianlong era emerged Guo Dexing, a man of both civil and martial talent, known for his wisdom and resourcefulness. His clever solution to a horse theft case became a widely celebrated tale. In the first year of the Jiaqing era, he was promoted to the rank of Manchu Deputy Commander in Mergen, later reassigned to the Qiqihar Naval Camp with the rank of fourth-grade officer. Proficient in both Manchu and Han literature, gifted in painting and singing, his reputation spread far and wide. He was also known for honoring the learned, warmly treating anyone with literary skill for fear of slighting them. He once served as the first head of Qiqihar’s official school.

Among the Guo lineage, Guo Songsan stood out as the pride of the entire clan for his exceptional bravery and distinguished military achievements in battle. Not only was he personally bestowed with the yellow mandarin jacket by the emperor, but he was also gifted an imperial ivory tiger-hilted saber. Even his name, Guo Songsan, was conferred by the emperor himself. He earned merit in quelling rebellions in Xinjiang and eventually rose to the position of Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard.

Later came Guo Shengshou, a deputy commander of the Plain Yellow Banner in Hulan City who excelled both in combat and governance, and Guo Xisheng, who served over 20 years in the Ministry of Revenue, overseeing the seals of Zhejiang, Huguang, and Jiangnan. There was also Guo Kaoting, a late Qing businessman who ran Tianbao Dang and a grocery store, becoming a wealthy merchant in Bukui.

The Guo Family Compound later suffered losses during wartime, with the imperial-inscribed “Da Fu Di” plaque and many calligraphy and painting manuscripts scattered or lost. Today, the Huishantang Guo Clan Genealogy is preserved in the city library. Descendants of the Guo family, yearning for their ancestors and tied to Bukui, remain emotionally connected to the old residence. Guo Deyong’s sister, Guo Wei, now a doctor in Nanjing, pays close attention to every change at the Guo Family Compound. She also holds a deep affection for her hometown’s scenery and culture. She says, “Descendants of the Guo family, raised on the waters of the Nen River and nourished by the grains of the Songnen Plain, no matter where we are—in the corners of the world or abroad—we can proudly declare ourselves as people of Qiqihar. We care about the development of our hometown and remain deeply attached to this land.”

It is this deep love for the homeland and the passionate stories steeped in history that allow a family and a compound to continue shining with a unique brilliance amid the tides of time.

Year Built: Initiated during the Kangxi era

Architectural Style: Ming and Qing-style courtyard

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dress: East Second Road, Jianhua District, Qiqihar City