Yongkang Examination Residence

Yongkang Examination Residence

Yongkang Examination Residence is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Zhejiang Province.

Yongkang Examination Residence is a historic Qing Dynasty building located at No. 81, General Road, Guci Ancient City, Jinhua City. It served as the residence and study place for Yongkang candidates who came to Jinhua to take the imperial examination for the xiucai degree during the Qing Dynasty.

Yongkang Examination Residence is an early Qing or late Ming building divided into three sections: front, middle, and rear. Stone flagpole bases are placed on either side of the entrance, the front hall features a decorative stone stairway, and the lintel is adorned with murals and plaques such as “Yongkang Examination Residence” and “Legacy of Yong County,” with a portrait of Confucius displayed at the front. The central section, or middle hall, serves as the main building and was used as a gathering space. The rear hall, or third section, functions as the Ancestral Hall of Sages, situated at a higher elevation with each step up, serving as a ceremonial site dedicated to worshiping the “God of Literature,” “Deity of Culture,” and “Guanyu.” Worship ceremonies were held here in spring and autumn. Before their exams, candidates would pay homage here, praying for academic and career success. The east and west wing rooms were where the candidates lived and studied.

The Yongkang Examination Residence consists of three sections — the entrance hall, the main hall, and the rear hall — with a total floor area of 437 square meters. It served as the residence and preparation place for Yongkang candidates taking the xiucai examination in Jinhua during the Qing Dynasty. The examination residence is a representative relic of Jinhua’s imperial examination culture.

Further reading:

· Third Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Jinhua City

· Sixth Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Zhejiang Province