The Tao Dian Ancient Architectural Complex

The Tao Dian Ancient Architectural Complex

The Tao Dian Ancient Architectural Complex is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Zhejiang Province.

The Tao Dian Ancient Architectural Complex is located in Niansanli Subdistrict, Yiwu City, dating back to the Qing Dynasty. It includes the He Clan Ancestral Hall, Shenxiu Hall, Jishan Hall, and the Thirteen-Bay Building.

The He Clan Ancestral Hall is located at No. 66, North Taodian Village Road, Tao Dian Village, Niansanli Subdistrict, Yiwu City. Also called the Minor Ancestral Hall, it faces east with its back to the west, fronted by a winding stream that looks like an ornamental ribbon. The structure consists of front and rear courtyards, with a layout of three sections and five bays, along with left and right wing rooms. It covers a construction area of 641 square meters, took four years to complete, and was initiated in the 54th year of the Qianlong reign (1789) by He Maozai. In the 12th year of the Daoguang reign (1832), his descendants carried out large-scale renovations and expansions of the ancestral hall. The existing bluestone gate tower is an original structure from the Daoguang period, inscribed with the year of its completion. In the 11th year of the Xianfeng reign (1861), it was burned down by the Taiping Army, but was restored in the 14th year of the Guangxu reign (1888). The building features wooden beams and stone pillars, winter melon-shaped arched beams, and fully exposed roof structures. Its framework is robust, with exquisite wood carvings. The bluestone archway at the facade boasts fine stone carvings. The site once housed a private school, where He Jing, a local scholar from Yiwu, studied under the tutelage of his grandfather. The He Clan Ancestral Hall is sizable, well-preserved, accurately dated, and holds significant historical, artistic, and scientific value.

The He Clan Ancestral Hall is surrounded by other important halls, including Shenxiu Hall, Jishan Hall, and the Thirteen-Bay Building, forming a grand architectural complex. Shenxiu Hall, commonly known as Xiaofen Li or Xiaofang Hall, is located at No. 52, north of the road, on the right side of the He Clan Ancestral Hall. It was built by He Dezai and completed in the 22nd year of the Daoguang reign (1842). The hall faces east with its back to the west, covering a total area of 1,038.6 square meters. It consists of three sections, each with three bays, along with two wing rooms and two corridors, comprising a front gate hall, main hall, upper floor hall, and ten left and right wing rooms. The layout is neat, and the scale is grand. The main hall has sturdy beams, and a black-lacquered, gold-plated wooden plaque hangs in the central hall, inscribed by Wang Pinfang, an academician of the Grand Secretariat, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and compiler at the Hanlin Academy. The second gate leading from the main hall to the inner residence is a classic “merchant-style” gate. The exterior windows of the upper floor hall feature floor-length latticed panels with intricately carved eight-immortal figures on both sides, demonstrating exceptional craftsmanship. It has accurate dating and holds high historical, artistic, and scientific value. Jishan Hall, commonly known as Dafen Li or Dafang Hall, is located at No. 16, north of the road, west of Shenxiu Hall, separated by a fire lane. Its construction period and architectural style are largely similar to those of Shenxiu Hall. The building has three sections, each with three bays, along with left and right wing rooms, covering a construction area of 1,076 square meters, and is composed of a two-section, quadrangle-style courtyard. The Thirteen-Bay Building was built in the late Qing Dynasty, located at No. 33, north of the road, consisting of a main house with five bays, flanked by left and right wing rooms and corridors forming a three-sided courtyard, covering an area of 440 square meters. The entire residential complex is grand in scale, well-preserved, accurately dated, exquisitely crafted, and possesses high historical, artistic, and scientific value.

On January 13, 2017, the People's Government of Zhejiang Province announced it as part of the seventh batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Conservation Units in Zhejiang.

Niansanli Subdistrict: Established in December 2003, Niansanli Subdistrict is the birthplace of China Commodity City and is known as the “Hometown of Bangzi Drums.” Located in the eastern part of Yiwu City and bordering Dongyang City, the subdistrict covers an area of 72.2 square kilometers, with a registered population of 42,000 and a migrant population of 100,000. It governs 35 administrative villages and 8 residential communities. The subdistrict enjoys well-developed transportation: the completed Yongjin Expressway and Yangguang Avenue run through the area, while the broad Chounian Highway closely connects the subdistrict with the urban center. The brand-new Shangcheng Avenue leads directly to the Futian Market of the China International Commodities City, achieving seamless integration with the market... More details about Niansanli Subdistrict++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Conservation Units in Zhejiang