Shangzhitang Wu Residence

Shangzhitang Wu Residence

(Photograph by Lili Town)

Shangzhitang Wu Residence is a cultural heritage conservation unit of Jiangsu Province.

Shangzhitang Wu Residence is situated on Northwest Street in the urban area, oriented to face south with a northern layout, and consists of three sections and four courtyards. The eastern section is the main one, where the current second courtyard serves as the main hall. It is three bays wide (13 meters) and nine rafters deep (13 meters). The flat-style beams are adorned with carvings of "hundred bats amid flowing clouds" in wrapped-silk brocade designs. The gable walls are finished with fine brick tiles. The hall floor is paved with flagstones, and beneath the eaves of the partition walls are decorations including plain-brick three-riser bracket sets and cantilevered brackets, with a double-sided brick-carved gate tower to the south. To the north of the hall lies a small garden lush with flowers and trees. The third courtyard is a three-bay hall with two wing rooms; the lower level features a covered walkway with carvings in wrapped-silk brocade patterns. There is also a courtyard between the third and fourth courtyards, which includes structures such as a pavilion and corridors. The fourth courtyard is a main hall building. The western section currently retains four courtyards of buildings and three gate towers dating back to the 23rd year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1758), all featuring exquisitely carved bricks. Originally, there were four stone steles conferred by imperial decree, which were collected and stored at the Suzhou Museum in 1973.

In the early years after liberation, Shangzhitang had already been divided into residences for common people. In 1954, the central section of Shangzhitang was allocated to the Sandalwood Fan Factory for use as factory space, while the east and west sections remained residential. On January 30, 1989, the Sandalwood Fan Factory was set on fire at night, and the hall buildings were completely destroyed. In August 2002, during restructuring and adjustments, the Sandalwood Fan Factory began using the central buildings to establish the “Suzhou Arts and Crafts Museum.” On January 16, 2003, the museum was officially completed and opened to the public.

In 2009, it was listed as a cultural heritage conservation unit of Suzhou City. On December 19, 2011, the People's Government of Jiangsu Province designated it as part of the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural heritage conservation units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Conservation Units