Jiayin Hall

Jiayin Hall

Jiayin Hall is a cultural tourism attraction.

The main entrance of Jiayin Hall is located in the middle section of Youjia Lane, while its north gate sits at the southern end of Changqing Bridge, serving as the residence of Liu Bingnan. Liu Bingnan’s ancestors owned a mansion in Beishe called “Lüyin Hall,” which was reduced to ruins in a great fire in the 8th year of the Republic of China (1919). In the 11th year of the Republic of China, Liu Bingnan spent 20,000 taels of silver to purchase one and a half acres of land and moved to Tongli to build his residence. To commemorate “Lüyin Hall,” he named his new home “Jiayin Hall.” Jiayin Hall has four courtyards and thirty-two rooms, featuring a tranquil environment and exquisite architecture. The various carvings, in particular, are delicate, refined, magnificent, and elegant, holding high artistic value.

The main entrance of Jiayin Hall features a Shikumen-style gate, built with polished blue bricks joined with mortar for a neat and shiny finish. The central ridge of the entrance hall is adorned with a brick carving depicting “Pine and Crane for Longevity.” The ridge of the second courtyard, or the main hall, features sculpted figures of the Three Star Gods of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity.

The main hall is the principal structure of Jiayin Hall, designed in Ming-style imitation, commonly known as the “Gauze Hat Hall.” The hall is hung with ornate lanterns, and its floor-to-ceiling windows, mahogany tables and chairs shine brightly, while the large blue square bricks on the ground are smooth and spotless. Above the table hangs a horizontal plaque inscribed with “Jiayin Hall,” created by the master of epigraphy, painting, and calligraphy Qian Juntao. The plaque bears a red seal impression of a crane and cloud pattern, and the two side beams feature couplets that read: “Let your virtue be as noble as the sky, and your name spread far and wide; let your descendants be as flourishing as the trees.” The second beam also carries couplets. The central beam features engravings of “Swallows Returning Home” and “Golden Cabbage,” symbolizing wealth and happiness. The beams also include floral patterns, peach motifs, and crabapple designs, symbolizing prosperity, longevity, and beauty. A particularly charming feature is the “Eaves Arch” and “Swallow Arch,” which add depth and elegance. The decorative patterns include depictions of “The Eighteen Scholars” from the “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” painting, vividly highlighting the rich and graceful charm of traditional Chinese painting. The ceiling features a large “Pavilion Painting,” including scenes from “The Peony Pavilion,” “The Romance of the Western Chamber,” “The Peony Pavilion,” and “The Peach Blossom Fan,” all exuding classical elegance. It is also included in the “Chinese Famous Paintings and Calligraphy Catalogue.”

The carved windows on the east and west sides depict “National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance” (peonies) and “Fairy of the Waves” (narcissus). The skirt boards and large panels of the floor-to-ceiling windows are carved with “Antique Patterns,” representing spring orchids, summer lotuses, autumn chrysanthemums, and winter plum blossoms, all with clear and elegant designs. On the east side of the side panels is carved a magnolia, symbolizing “Prosperity in a Noble House,” and on the west side is a osmanthus flower, symbolizing “Success in the Imperial Examination,” both interpreted by folk tradition as representations of “Wealth and Honor.” The screen doors are separated by floor-to-ceiling partitions, giving the main hall an exceptionally tranquil, serene, simple, and classic ambiance.

After renovation, Jiayin Hall transformed the original third courtyard building into a garden to expand the visiting space. On the east side of the garden, Taihu rocks are stacked into a simple and bright flower stand, planted with precious flowers and trees, and adorned with ethereal peak stones. On the west side of the garden, a three-curved corridor is built. The northern end of the corridor leads to a half pavilion, which serves as the gateway to the inner residence, connecting the front hall with the rear building (Yanqing Tower).

Yanqing Tower is the inner residential tower of Jiayin Hall. In front of the tower lies a flagstone courtyard, which features a stone carving of “Five Blessings Holding a Longevity Symbol.” On the south side of the courtyard stands a blue brick-carved gate tower, with three tiers of upturned eaves that are light and graceful. The upper beam of the gate tower is carved with shallow relief depictions of the “Eight Immortals” (known as “hidden immortals,” where objects represent the immortals themselves). The central lower beam features a deep relief carving of the Three Star Gods of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity in the center of a “piece of jade,” with the inscription “Upright Virtue Passed Down Through Generations” on the nameplate.

Inside Yanqing Tower, there are many wooden carvings depicting stories of famous figures. On the main beam of the hall, originally carved were eight illustrations of the “Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars,” of which only four remain: “Laolaizi Dancing in Colorful Clothes to Entertain His Parents,” “Tanzi Disguising as a Deer to Get Deer Milk,” “Jiang Ge Carrying His Mother and Moving Robbers with Filial Piety,” and “Cai Shun’s Mulberries Moving Bandits.” During renovation, four more were added: “Fisherman on the River,” “Gods of Fortune and Longevity,” and others. The beams in the side room are carved with eight landscape designs. Though different from the originals, their carving craftsmanship is equally exceptional. On both sides of the five-beam frame, eight deep reliefs are carved, including “Bole Appraising Horses,” “Dunyi Admiring Lotus,” “Wang Xizhi Loving Geese,” “Heavenly Steed Releasing Cranes,” “Seeking Water Under Pine Trees,” and “Searching for Plum Blossoms in the Snow.” The upper and lower layers of the tower hall are all designed as “kowtow eaves.” The balconies on the upper floor and the eaves between the double steps, though differing in size, share the same “Crane Leg Straight” style. The lower floor varies, with the “Corridor Eave” featuring diamond-shaped rafters, yet also incorporating a bracket on the eave beam, supporting the eave purlin, creating a “Diamond One Branch Incense Eave” distinct from the inner eave. The inner eave is made into a “Double Diamond Eave,” further distinguishing it from the “Corridor Eave.” This design not only sets it apart from the upper eaves but also gives the two lower eaves a balance of unity and diversity, rarity and similarity—a level of eave craftsmanship that is extremely rare.

On the soft overhanging brackets and the beak-end beams, nine layers of decorative edges are applied, varying in width, depth, concavity, and convexity, combining solid and hollow patterns in layered succession. Additionally, flower baskets for displaying floral arrangements are hung from the diagonal supports of the soft overhangs—truly exquisitely crafted and ingeniously designed.

In the northwest corner of Yanqing Tower is the Waterside Pavilion, built along the water. The small pavilion is delicate and elegant. From inside, one can quietly listen to the sounds of wind, water, and oars, and gaze down at small bridges, revetments, and old trees. On the east side of the pavilion is a curved corridor with white walls, as well as a kitchen and stove area built close to the water. Jiayin Hall was confiscated during the 1970 housing reforms and had previously served as the campus of Yuching Private Middle School, Nanhuang Lane Primary School, and the Tongli Police Station. In 1981, it was opened as a tourist scenic spot, underwent renovation starting in 1993, and officially opened to the public in 1996 at a cost of 1.8 million yuan. In September 1997, it was listed as a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit.

In December 2011, it was announced by the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government as part of the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural relics protection units.

Address: No. 134 Zhuhang Street, Tongli Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City

Type: Historical Architecture

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: One of China’s Six Ancient Towns of the South, Tongli was formerly known as “Futu,” renamed “Tongli” in the early Tang Dynasty, and had its name restructured from its original characters during the Song Dynasty. Established in the Song Dynasty, it has a history of over 1,000 years as of 2015 and is a water town cultural heritage site in China.

Located in Wujiang District, Suzhou City, Tongli Town is 18 kilometers from downtown Suzhou and 80 kilometers from Shanghai. Covering an area of 33 hectares, the town is surrounded by five lakes, connected by 49 bridges, and divided into seven islands by a network of rivers. The ancient town features homes by the water and boats for every household; bridges from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties are well preserved. In 1982... More details about Tongli Town++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units