Wei Family Salt Merchant's Residence

Wei Family Salt Merchant's Residence

The Wei Family Salt Merchant's Residence is a protected cultural heritage site of Yangzhou.

Wei Family Salt Merchant's Residence

Located at No. 40 Yongsheng Street in Yangzhou, it was the residence of salt merchant Wei Cigeng and was built during the Qing Dynasty. The main gate faces west, and the structure is oriented north-south, with the residential section to the east and the garden to the west. The eastern part of the building consists of five courtyards in sequence: the front sections include the screen hall and the main hall, while the rear comprises three courtyards of living quarters. The main hall is five bays wide and seven rafters deep, with rolled awnings at both the front and back. The three rear courtyards all consist of three rooms flanked by two side rooms, each with small wing rooms and private courtyards. The western part of the residence, which was the garden, has suffered severe damage over time, with only some rockeries and trees remaining. Originally, there was a four-sided hall called “Chuitai,” which housed a horizontal plaque inscribed with “Song of Ancient Yangzhou” written by Zheng Banqiao; this plaque was moved to Slender West Lake after the liberation. There was also a boat-shaped hall, which has since been relocated to the “West Garden Winding Waters” area south of Dahong Bridge.

Further Reading:

· List of the Fourth Batch of Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Yangzhou