Wu Qiji Residence

Wu Qiji Residence

Wu Qiji Residence is a cultural relic protection unit of Jinhua City.

Wu Qiji Residence is located at No. 35 Dawentou, Fotang Town. It is an ancient building from the Republican era, constructed by Wu Maoqi (1890–1973), a wealthy businessman from Fotang at the time, and named after his shop. It is the only remaining three-and-a-half-story brick-and-wood structure in Yiwu. Regarding the construction date of Wu Qiji, there are two theories: one suggests it was built in the 24th year of the Republic of China (1935), and the other in the 29th year (1940).

The entire building is divided into two sections, front and back, with three bays each. The front section features a hall on the ground floor with three rooms, while the rear section includes a central hall and main rooms, flanked by six side rooms on each side, forming a grid-like alleyway. The deep courtyard, adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, showcases exquisitely crafted reliefs with timeless charm. The courtyard is dotted with moss-covered traces and lush stone steps, while swallows carrying spring mud fly back and forth under the eaves, adding a touch of liveliness. In the center of the courtyard, there are two square water basins reflecting the blue sky.

The leaning pillars in the hall are a distinctive feature of Wu Qiji. Although the pillars are tilted, the entire building remains perfectly upright, not deviating by even a hair’s breadth, demonstrating the exceptional craftsmanship of the artisans.

Another highlight of Wu Qiji is its exquisite carvings. Beams, brackets, railings, and lattice windows feature either openwork or relief carvings, depicting themes such as opera characters, fishermen and woodcutters, farming and reading, as well as fish, aquatic plants, flowers, and birds. From every carving, one can discern stories and figures from classics like Romance of the Three Kingdoms and The Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars. Whether it’s the vivid and detailed brackets, the classic and elegant doors and windows, the ingeniously designed beams, or the intricate relief and round carvings, all retain their timeless charm through the passage of time, making it a true gem of the Jiangnan region.

Fotang Town: Located in central Zhejiang and southern Yiwu City, Fotang Town is ten kilometers from the China Commodity City. It borders Dongyang City to the east, Chian Town to the south, Yiting Town and Jindong District to the west, and Jiangdong and Choujiang Subdistricts to the north. Covering an area of 134.1 square kilometers, the town administers 106 administrative villages, 3 residential committees, has a permanent population of 81,000, and 60,000 migrant residents. In 2006, it achieved a GDP of 1.85 billion yuan, fiscal revenue of 200 million yuan, total industrial and agricultural output value of 7 billion yuan, an average rural income of 7,750 yuan, with a tertiary industry ratio of 10.... Fotang Town detailed information++