Ziwu Mountain Residential Complex

Ziwu Mountain Residential Complex

The Ziwu Mountain Residential Complex is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Ziwu Mountain Residential Complex was built as a mansion by Xu Honggang, who served as the Minister of War in Nanjing during the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty, along with his father Xu Wenqing, and his brothers Xu Hongji and Xu Honglun. It is situated against Turtle Mountain to the north, fronted by an east-west pond that is round in the east and square in the west, with a cobblestone street running along the pond bank lined with locust trees on the east and camphor trees on the west. The complex is composed of three axes: the central axis belongs to the Minister’s Mansion, while the Doctors’ Mansion and Generals’ Mansion flank either side. Each axis is separated by lanes, with gateways at both ends. The surviving structures include the Small Hall, the Gate Hall of the Minister’s Mansion axis, Yiyantang Hall, the Rear Hall, Kaitai Hall and the Central Hall of the Doctors’ Mansion axis, along with some wing rooms. Both Yiyantang and Kaitai Halls are three-bay structures, with the central bay featuring a flat-beam construction, while the side bays use brick imitation-wood beam frameworks. The beams, brackets, purlins, and upper parts of the columns are decorated with paintings in elegant and distinctive tones.

On October 7, 2019, the Ziwu Mountain Residential Complex was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Source: Jinhua Government Website

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units