Zhilan Village Architectural Complex

Zhilan Village Architectural Complex

The Zhilan Village Architectural Complex is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Zhilan Village Architectural Complex is located in Zhilan Village, Huangdian Town, Zhilan Township.

The village is a settlement of the Chen clan, originally built during the Song Dynasty. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, commercial buildings such as inns and grocery stores emerged. Today, over 30 residential buildings from the Ming and Qing periods remain, categorized into two main types: ancestral halls and residences. Representative structures include the “Filial Piety Hall,” “Virtue Extension Hall,” “Beauty Perpetuation Hall,” and “Chengzhi Hall.” These buildings feature distinctive structures and are relatively well-preserved. Among them, the Filial Piety Hall is the ancestral hall of the Chen clan, consisting of three courtyards. Along the central axis are the entrance hall, main hall, and rear hall, flanked by side rooms. The main hall has a width of three bays and is surrounded by corridors, with a hip-and-gable roof. Some of these ancient buildings have documented genealogies, plaques, or inscriptions, allowing for relatively certain dating and offering a clear evolution of architectural styles over time, making them of high historical value.

The residences in Zhilan Village provide important physical evidence for the study of traditional village culture and the evolution of residential architecture. In 2006, the Zhilan Village Architectural Complex was included by the State Council in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units as a site of ancient architecture from the Ming to Qing dynasties.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units