Yuyan Hall (Zhang Mansion)

Yuyan Hall (Zhang Mansion)

Yuyan Hall (Zhang Mansion) is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Originally named "Yishun Hall" and commonly known as Zhang Mansion, Yuyan Hall was built during the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty (1436–1450) by descendants of Xu Mengqing, the younger brother of Xu Da, the Prince of Zhongshan. It was sold to the Zhang family in the early Qing Dynasty. The property has six courtyards, 60 rooms, covers a land area of 1,400 square meters, and has a built-up area of 1,884 square meters. To the south of the main hall is a dim, narrow service corridor stretching 20 meters long, which connects to the upper hall on the left and leads to the flower hall on the right. Beneath the corridor runs a crystal-clear stream that passes through a waterside pavilion and connects to South Lake, embodying the architectural feature of “bridges entering through the gate, boats passing beneath the home.” It is one of China’s well-preserved Ming Dynasty residences and is highly valued by many experts in ancient architecture.

The main hall of Yuyan Hall still retains the appearance of a prosperous household. The entire hall is bright and spacious, furnished with antique redwood pieces. The pillars around the hall are about one person's embrace in diameter, and unusually, their bases are wooden drum-shaped pedestals—a distinct feature indicating its Ming Dynasty origin. The hall's plaques and ceiling are adorned with decorative lights and ornaments, giving the otherwise serene space a touch of festive liveliness, as if recreating the scenes of banquets and guest receptions held by former owners.

Due to its refined charm and historic elegance, Yuyan Hall was designated as a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1995. It has also become a famous attraction in Zhouzhuang, one of the Six Famous Water Towns of the Jiangnan region.

Address: No. 38 Beishi Street, Zhouzhuang Town, Kunshan City, Suzhou (within the Zhouzhuang Ancient Town scenic area)

Type: Historic Site / Architectural Heritage

Recommended Visiting Time: About 0.5 hours

Tel: Zhouzhuang Ancient Town Hotline: 4008282900; 0512-57211699

Opening Hours:

Summer: 8:00–20:00; Winter: 8:00–19:00 (subject to slight adjustments based on peak/off-peak seasons)

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Zhouzhuang Ancient Town admission fee.

Zhouzhuang Town: Located in the northeastern part of Kunshan, bordering Taicang City and Changshu City, Zhouzhuang Town was formed by merging the former Zhouzhuang, Xinzhen, and Luyang towns. It serves as the planned urban center of the northern district of Kunshan. The town covers an area of 81.56 square kilometers, with a local resident population of 43,000 and a migrant population of 60,000. It administers two subdistrict offices (Xinzhen and Luyang), 12 community committees, and 15 administrative villages, comprising 112 neighborhood groups and 382 villager groups. It has been awarded titles such as “Nationally Recognized Beautiful Environment Town,” “Jiangsu Provincial Civilized Town,” and “Suzhou Advanced Town for Investment Promotion…” More details about Zhouzhuang Town ++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units