Nanjing Qifeng Shiguan

Nanjing Qifeng Shiguan

Nanjing Qifeng Shiguan

Nanjing Qifeng Shiguan is now the site of the Nanjing Oriental Art Institute. The entire institute covers an area of 500 square meters and integrates dining, snacks, tea houses, entertainment, and art. It is a great place for leisure and entertainment, tea tasting and dining, as well as experiencing Eastern culture and Nanjing’s folk art.

Qifeng Shiguan is located at No. 52 Chao Ku Street, adjacent to the former residence of Li Xiangjun to the east and overlooking Wuding Bridge to the west. This building was constructed by Zhu Qifeng from Anhui. All members of the Zhu family who came to Nanjing to take the imperial examinations stayed here, hence the name “Qifeng Shiguan” (Shiguan means an inn for examination candidates). The structure consists of two courtyards: the western courtyard has three sections — the front part is a single-story building, while the rear is a multi-story building; the eastern courtyard has two sections. The rearmost sections of both courtyards face the river.

The first floor of Qifeng Shiguan is the Dongyi Hall, which showcases fine folk art pieces from across China and authentic calligraphy and paintings by renowned artists. Eight master artisans from Nanjing perform live demonstrations of their unique crafts, including calligraphy and seal carving, ancient xun flute playing, kite making, butterfly painting, bamboo carving, root carving, pyrography, and paper-cutting. The second floor is an art-themed tea house that regularly hosts a series of culturally rich activities such as calligraphy salons, traditional music appreciation sessions, antique appraisal gatherings, and Peking opera fan meetups. It serves as a leisure venue for literati and those with refined cultural tastes.