Wu Family’s Zhongcheng Mansion

Wu Family’s Zhongcheng Mansion

Wu Family’s Zhongcheng Mansion is a cultural tourism attraction.

Wu Family’s Zhongcheng Mansion is located at No. 54, Maxiang. The original owner of the residence was Wu Guangyue, styled Xingyi and also known as Jianlou. He became a Jinshi (advanced scholar) in the first year of the Jiaqing reign (1796) during the Qing Dynasty. Having served as a Zhongshu official before being directly assigned to the Grand Council, he was later promoted to imperial censor and eventually rose to the position of Governor of Jiangxi. According to county records, while serving as the Henan Hebei Dao official, Wu encountered a dike breach. He personally went to the river works site, patrolling day and night, overseeing flood prevention efforts, keeping detailed records, and gaining an in-depth understanding of the safety conditions along 500 li of the embankment. His methods were later cited as a model by the River Conservancy Commissioner. Later, when transferred to become Governor of Jiangxi, he faced severe flooding due to prolonged rain. He petitioned to retain 80,000 shi of grain transported via the canal to help feed the disaster victims. Eventually, he passed away in office after years of overwork, at the age of 73.

This Zhongcheng Mansion was built during his tenure as Governor of Jiangxi. It was constructed during the “Prosperous Era of Qianlong and Jiaqing,” so the materials and design were quite refined. Each section of the residence is built slightly higher than the previous one, ascending step by step, symbolizing “rising steadily in rank.” Additionally, the main gates of each hall are slightly offset to prevent a direct line of sight through the entire structure, giving it a unique architectural style.

The mansion consists of five sections in total, with nearly 100 rooms including main rooms, side rooms, wing rooms, towers, and halls. The large garden at the back covers an area of approximately 3,333.5 square meters. Upon entering the main gate, a plaque inscribed with “Zhongcheng Mansion” hangs from the beam. The second section serves as the sedan chair hall. The third section is the main hall, which is 12.9 meters wide, 14.4 meters deep, and 9.1 meters high. In the center hangs a plaque inscribed with the character “Fu” (blessing), written by Emperor Jiaqing, alongside a golden-lacquered wooden box used for storing imperial edicts. The fourth and fifth sections were living quarters for family members. The back garden features rockeries and shaded trees. Although the garden landscape of the “Zhongcheng Mansion” has been lost, the buildings remain largely intact, preserving the architectural style of Qing-era official residences. Part of the residence is still inhabited by descendants of the Wu family, the main hall is used by Maxiang Neighborhood Committee, and the rest are residential homes.

Before the 1990s, Tu Ji, a veteran of the Xinhai Revolution and the first civil affairs chief of Wujin County after the Republican Restoration, rented a house here. Tu Ji (1856–1921), also known as Yu and styled Jingshan, became a Jinshi in the 18th year of the Guangxu reign (1892). He once served as a Hanlin Bachelor and achieved great expertise in the study of Yuan history. It was here that he completed his compilation of the History of the Mongols (蒙兀儿史) and spent the rest of his life. Zhang Chunfan, the author of the late Qing novel The Nine-Tailed Turtle (九尾龟), also lived here. In December 1987, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit.