Former Residence of Li Changle

Former Residence of Li Changle

The former residence of Li Changle is a cultural relic protection unit of Yangzhou City.

Former Residence of Li Changle

Located at No. 41, Wugu Lane, Dongguan Street, it was the ancestral home of Li Changle, who served as the Governor-General of Zhili during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. Wugu Lane, originally named Shewei Lane, was later renamed Wufu Lane after Li Changle built his residence here, and is now known as Wugu Lane. Li Changle (1838–1889), courtesy name Hanchun, was from Banta Ji in Xuyi, and served as Governor-General in Hubei, Hunan, and Zhili. He spent decades in the military and was honored with three titles of "Baturu" (meaning "brave warrior") in his lifetime—an extremely rare achievement in Qing Dynasty history. The residence was purchased and built when he served as a colonel in the early years of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty. It originally spanned an area of over 2,000 square meters, with approximately eighty rooms totaling more than 1,000 square meters in floor space. The complex was divided into eastern, central, and western sections, plus a small garden. The original address on Wufu Lane included numbers 6, 8, and 10; numbers 6 and 8 no longer exist, leaving only number 10, which has since been changed to 41. Eastern axis residence: The original main gate of No. 6 Wufu Lane faced south and was quite imposing in its day. To the west of the gate stood a earthen shrine and a mounting stone, with a large screen wall opposite the gate, none of which remain today. Entering the gate, there were originally a reception hall and a main hall. The main hall was constructed with cypress wood framing, followed by a second residential section. In total, there were five sections of front and rear main rooms including the gate tower, all with five bays in width. Further back were the kitchen and auxiliary buildings in a small courtyard. The eastern section was also the best part of Li Changle’s residence. Central axis residence: This is the current No. 41 Wugu Lane. The gate tower faces east, with its historical appearance still preserved and the overall layout largely intact. The gate tower is wider than those of ordinary homes, in a traditional eight-character shape. Upon entering the gate tower, there is a large central courtyard. Turning right, the front and rear main rooms originally had three sections, all with three bays and two side wings. Two sections remain today, with one side wing at the rear having been demolished. Upon entering the gate tower, the ceremonial gate facing east is still intact. Outside the ceremonial gate runs a north-facing fire lane. Standing at the lane entrance and looking north is also an impressive sight. The alley is lined with high gray brick walls laid neatly and squarely, with horizontal and vertical lines, and the eaves below feature well-preserved rows of smooth, trimmed square bricks. Along the top of this row of high walls are five standalone screen walls of varying heights, arranged in an orderly fashion. Based on these five screen walls, it can be concluded that this section of the residence historically had five sections of front and rear houses.

Further Reading:

· List of the Fourth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Yangzhou City