Yao Family Courtyard in Jingshan Village

Yao Family Courtyard in Jingshan Village

The Yao Family Courtyard in Jingshan Village is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The Yao Family Courtyard is located in Tianhuangping Town and was built by Yao Sihou, a Huizhou merchant surnamed Yao. In addition to private garden architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties, the courtyard also features Three Gardens, Seven Pavilions, and Twenty-Four Scenic Spots. It also serves as a creative base for the Huzhou Academy of Calligraphy and Painting and a moral education base for students.

In the 23rd year of the Jiaqing reign (1818), Yao Sihou (1788–1865), a Huizhou merchant surnamed Yao, relocated from Nanyao Village, Tongcheng, Anhui, to Tianhuangping Town, Anji. He discovered that an old house there was situated on a feng shui treasure site, so he purchased the property. After several generations of development, the Yao family became one of the most prominent local clans.

In 1945, the New Fourth Army’s Su-Zhe Military Region launched its first battle right in front of the Yao Family Courtyard, marking the beginning of the First, Second, and Third Anti-Stubbornness Campaigns. During these three campaigns, commanders such as Su Yu and political commissar Tan Zhenlin stayed within the courtyard. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, part of the property was allocated to local farmers during land reform. It was later used as a national grain storage facility.

Following comprehensive development of the “Yao Family Courtyard” attraction, it officially opened to visitors in 2005. In addition to exploring the private garden architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties, tourists can also visit the Egret Garden, Anji Folk Culture Garden, Square Bamboo Garden, the New Fourth Army Memorial Hall, Su Yu Memorial Hall, Yao Family History Museum, Hu Zongnan Biography Museum, Young Lady’s Tower Living Museum, Anji History Museum, and Chinese and Foreign Numismatic History Museum—collectively known as the Three Gardens and Seven Pavilions. Other attractions include the Wind-Fire Wall, Yixiang, China’s Wild Mulberry King, Ruins and Crumbling Walls, Jingjing (Tranquil Scene), Dancing (where willows sway), Mandarin Duck Pond, Xiao Peak, Ancient Apricot Grove, Southern China’s Osmanthus King, Ming Dynasty Rockery, Shengchuntai (Spring Birth Platform), Qianjidong (Hidden Mechanism Cave), HuoranKailang (Sudden Enlightenment), Cangjinxue (Gold-Hiding Cave), Xichunchi (Playful Spring Pond), Gallery, Banana Grove, Fudu (Fortune Ferry), Yanjing Well, Totem Pillar, A Winding Path Leading to Seclusion, Ancient Drill Ground, and Fengshoutai (Harvest Platform)—together comprising the Twenty-Four Scenic Spots.

As a creative base for the Huzhou Academy of Calligraphy and Painting and a moral education base for students, the Yao Family Courtyard has become a high-quality scenic destination that combines Anji’s historical and cultural tourism, green landscapes, and “red tourism.”

Jingshan Village: Located at the northern foot of Tianmu Mountain in the southern part of Anji County, Jingshan Village lies 200 kilometers east of Shanghai and 70 kilometers south of Hangzhou. It belongs to Tianhuangping Town, Anji County. The village enjoys a superior geographical location, flat terrain, and abundant mountain and forest resources. Provincial Highway 13 runs through the village, providing convenient transportation. The village covers a total area of 4.6 square kilometers, comprises four natural villages and 12 villager groups, and is home to 402 households with a total population of 1,053. In 2014, the village collective income was 1.35 million yuan, with a per capita income of 25,336 yuan.

… More details about Jingshan Village ++

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Zhejiang Province