Chongben Hall

Chongben Hall

Chongben Hall is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Jiangsu Province.

Chongben Hall (No. 18 Fujing Street)

Located adjacent to Xizhai Villa to the west, it faces south with a water view. Except for the third section, which was built in the eighth year of the Qing Dynasty’s Daoguang reign (1828), the rest was rebuilt in the first year of the Republic of China (1912). Covering an area of 518 square meters, it consists of five sections and twenty-five rooms. On July 1, 1986 [Wu Zheng Fa [1986] No. 87], it was listed as part of the second batch of cultural heritage sites protected by Wujiang County.

The name of the hall is derived from the meaning “to revere virtue, for virtue is noble; to uphold one’s roots, for roots are fundamental.” Originally, Chongben Hall was a group of side rooms west of the main hall of Xizhai Villa, the ancestral residence of the Gu family. Later, as the Gu family declined, they sold the property to the merchant Qian Youqin (from Sanyangtian, the Qian family) during the late Qing Dynasty. Except for the third section, which retained its original structure, Qian rebuilt the rest of the property in the first year of the Republic of China. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the property was confiscated during land reform. Before the policy was reinstated in 1980, the first three sections were returned to the Qian family, who then sold them to the court, making the court the owner. The last two sections remained under the management of the housing authority. In 1990, the Taihu Scenic Area Construction Office purchased the first four sections and carried out restoration work from 1991 to 1992. It was opened to the public as a tourist attraction on January 1, 1993.

The overall architectural complex of Chongben Hall extends along a central axis. The entrance hall, main hall, front building, rear building, and servants' quarters span five sections, all with three bays in width and separated by fireproof walls. An east-side service corridor runs through all five sections, creating a compact and exquisite layout. The entire structure gradually rises by three levels from front to back, subtly symbolizing “rising three ranks in officialdom.” The brick-carved gate towers face north and consist of three structures erected among the first three sections, with inscribed plaques reading “Revere Virtue, Uphold Roots,” “Honor the Legacy of the Marquis,” and “Legacy of the Merchant Sage.” Flanking the gate tower passageways are “crab-eye courtyards” on both sides. From the main hall to the inner residential tower, spanning the first three sections, there are over a hundred wooden carvings reflecting the local merchants’ aspirations for wealth and success. The six long window skirts in the center of the main hall are carved with motifs such as “Flowers and Antiquities,” “Prosperity and Peace,” and “Attract Wealth and Treasure.” The eight half-windows on either side feature fourteen scenes from “The Romance of the Western Chamber.” The beams on both sides are adorned with carvings of “Wealth Flowing Like Grain” and “Fulfillment of Wishes.” The lower-level long windows of the front building have skirts carved with “A Dream of Red Mansions – The Twelve Beauties,” while their skirts depict floral and bird patterns including “Squirrels and Grapes,” “Magpies and Red Plum,” “Twin Swallows and Peach Blossoms,” “Plum and Bamboo with Ribbon,” and “Silky Chicken and Hydrangea.” The rear building houses the finest carvings, totaling fifty-eight pieces. The sixteen partition boards on the middle sections of both the east and west sides on the ground floor are carved with “Fishermen, Woodcutters, Farmers, and Scholars,” “Music, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting,” and “The Eight Immortals.” The four door partition boards feature carvings of “Prosperity, Fortune, Longevity, and Happiness.”

Chongben Hall enjoys a prime location. To the south lies Jia Yin Hall, and it is adjacent to Changqing, Jili, and Taiping Bridges. It blends seamlessly with the surrounding traditional residences, which vary in height and are closely packed together, presenting an unadorned yet authentic image that epitomizes the charm of Jiangnan water towns—small bridges, flowing waters, and quaint homes.

In December 2011, the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government designated it as a provincial cultural heritage site in the seventh batch.

Address: No. 18 Fujing Street, Tongli Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City (within Tongli Ancient Town scenic area, north of Changqing Bridge)

Type: Historical Architecture Exhibition

Recommended Visit Duration: About 1 hour

Phone: 0512-63333120

Opening Hours:

April–October: 7:30–17:30; November–March: 7:30–17:15

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Tongli Ancient Town admission ticket.

Tongli Town: As one of China’s Six Ancient Towns of the South, Tongli was formerly known as “Futu.” In the early Tang Dynasty, it was renamed “Tongli,” and in the Song Dynasty, the name was further adapted from its characters. Established in the Song Dynasty, it has a history of over 1,000 years as of 2015, and is a renowned water town in China.

Tongli Town is located in Wujiang District, Suzhou City, approximately 18 kilometers from downtown Suzhou and 80 kilometers from Shanghai. Covering an area of 33 hectares, it is embraced by five lakes and interconnected by 49 bridges. A network of rivers divides the town into seven islands. Most homes in the ancient town are built along the waterways with boats accessible from every household. Well-preserved bridges from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties can still be found. In 1982... More details about Tongli Town++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites