Former Residence of Gan Xi (Gan Family Compound)

The Former Residence of Gan Xi (Gan Family Compound)

The Former Residence of Gan Xi (Gan Family Compound) is a protected cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province.

The Former Residence of Gan Xi, also known as Gan Family Compound or Gan Xi’s Mansion (designated as “Gan Family Compound” by the Nanjing government), was built in the early years of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty by Gan Fu from Jiangning. Gan Xi, the second son of Gan Fu, was a renowned scholar of the late Qing period who once achieved the status of Jinshi, and authored numerous works. It was discovered in 1982 during a cultural relics survey conducted by the Nanjing cultural relics authorities. To effectively utilize and recreate the style of Jiangnan residential architecture from the Ming and Qing periods, the cultural relics department restored parts of the buildings and established the Nanjing Folk Museum, which opened to the public in November 1992. In 1995, it was designated as a cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province, and in 2001, it was listed as a patriotic education base under government administration. In 2006, it became a national-level cultural heritage site. Currently, its exterior forms a distinctive folk culture old street together with Xinanli Historic Street.

Originally built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty, commonly referred to as the “Ninety-Nine and a Half Rooms,” it is ranked alongside the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and the Ming City Wall as one of Nanjing’s three major Ming and Qing landmarks, boasting extremely high historical, scientific, and tourism value.

As one of the larger multi-courtyard, corridor-style residences in the Nanjing area, it is commonly called the “Ninety-Nine and a Half Rooms.” The reason behind this name is that the number nine is the greatest yang (positive/auspicious) number and also an auspicious digit; going beyond nine to ten signifies reaching the limit, and reaching the limit implies decline. Hence, there has long been the saying in China of the “supreme authority of nine-five.” The largest imperial architectural complex is the Forbidden City, reputed to have “Ninety-Nine Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine and a Half Rooms”; the largest official building is the Confucius Mansion, said to have “Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine and a Half Rooms”; while residences are limited to no more than “Ninety-Nine and a Half Rooms.” This half room symbolizes both modesty for not reaching a hundred rooms and pride for being just a half step away from the goal. In reality, the Gan Xi Residence has a total of over 300 rooms.

Telephone

025-86628704;025-52237361

Suggested Duration

2 hours

Transportation

Bus routes: Tourist Line 2, Tourist Line 4, Routes 2, 4, 7, 16, 26, 33, 37, 40, 47, 49, 62, 101, 102; Metro: Line 1, Sanshanjie Station

Admission Fee

Fee: 20 RMB

Opening Hours

9:00-18:00

Location

No. 15-19, Nanbu Ting, Zhongshan South Road, Qinhuai District, Nanjing

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites