Huangshan Eight-Sided Hall

Huangshan Eight-Sided Hall

Huangshan Eight-Sided Hall is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a patriotic education base.

Originally named Zhensheng Hall, Huangshan Eight-Sided Hall is located in Huangshan Village Five, Shangxi Town, Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province, approximately 25 kilometers from downtown Yiwu. It was commissioned by Chen Zi?u (1720–1793, courtesy name Boyin), a renowned ham merchant from western Yiyi County, who tasked his grandson Chen Zhengdao with planning its construction. Work began in the first year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1796) and the hall was completed and hung with its plaque in the 17th year of Jiaqing (1812).

Huangshan Eight-Sided Hall is situated on high ground with an excellent location. It faces Huangxi Stream to the front and is backed by Shamaojian Mountain, with Huangshan serving as a scenic backdrop nearby and layered mountains stretching far into the distance. The site is surrounded on three sides by sand-like landforms, conforming to an auspicious traditional feng shui layout. The architecture follows a central axis design, with the main building oriented southwest to northeast, and a central axis running east to west, achieving balanced symmetry on both sides. The entire complex consists of a front garden and rear residence, divided into three routes, seven courtyards, and one garden, with three routes, six courtyards currently preserved. The central route includes, in sequence, a garden, a flower hall, an entrance hall, a main hall, and a tower building, encircled by left and right corridors and north and south wing rooms, forming a “日”-shaped layout. There are also cross-courtyards on the north and south acting as protective wings, serving as left and right supports. The entire architectural complex centers around the main hall, enclosed by surrounding wing courtyards, comprising eight halls in total, hence the colloquial name “Eight-Sided Hall.” Aside from the flower hall, which has been destroyed, the other seven halls are largely well-preserved. The original structure had 75 rooms, 64 of which remain today, covering a built-up area of 2,500 square meters and a site area of 2,908 square meters.

The architectural scale is grand and the craftsmanship exquisite, with a layout that is both intricate and orderly. A central axis and two auxiliary axes intersect to form the central hall structures and the surrounding wing courtyards. The buildings are renowned for their wood carvings, brick carvings, and stone carvings, serving as a masterpiece of the peak period of Dongyang woodcarving art. It is considered a rare gem of wood carving art and a museum of sculptural art. In 2001, due to its unique historical, artistic, and scientific value, it was designated as part of the fifth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units