Zhaitang East Street Yao Family Ancestral Hall

Zhaitang East Street Yao Family Ancestral Hall

Zhaitang East Street Yao Family Ancestral Hall is a cultural heritage site protected by Suzhou Municipality.

Zhaitang East Street Yao Family Ancestral Hall

Located at No. 66, East Street, Zhaitang Town, it was originally a Yao family ancestral hall. The last generation of householders was Yao Dansheng. It is now unoccupied. The existing structure consists of two courtyards and one entrance hall. The building faces south. The first section is the gatehouse, with an overall depth of seven bays (10.1 meters) and a width of three bays (18.91 meters). It has a wooden beam structure, and the overall timber framework remains intact. There are auxiliary rooms on both the east and west sides of the first courtyard. The second section is a main hall, with a width of five bays (19.45 meters) and a depth of seven bays (7.78 meters). It features a hanging-beam wooden structure and is relatively large in size. The entire building has double eaves, ornamental "ao tou"-style brackets, and exterior fireproof walls. Parts of the flooring and some doors and windows have been renovated. It was designated as a cultural heritage site protected by Changshu City in June 2009.

Zhaitang Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Changshu City. It was called Zhaitang Town in 1949, changed to a township in 1957, then to a commune in 1958, reverted to a township in 1983, and became a town again in 1986. It is located in the southeastern part of the city, about 24 kilometers from downtown. The town covers an area of 47 square kilometers and has a population of 31,000. National Highway 204 passes through the town, and the Baimao Pond and Yantie Pond converge north of the town. It administers 20 village committees: Yangqiao, Mengjing, Mafang, Xinmiao, Heshe, Sanlian, Yaozhen, Shuangqiao, Fengtang, Huangjing, Meiyuan, Bachi, Duqiaqiao, Changqiao, Pailou, Ximen, Qipan, Qiandao, Zhidong, and Yuye, as well as the East Street, South Street, North Street, ... Detailed information about Zhaitang Town++