Xin Guang Ancient Architectural Complex

Xin Guang Ancient Architectural Complex

The Xin Guang Ancient Architectural Complex is a protected cultural heritage site under Zhejiang Provincial Government.

The Xin Guang Ancient Architectural Complex is located in Xin Guang Village, Yu Zhai Township, Pujiang County, dating back to the Qing Dynasty.

Many refer to Xin Guang Village as the “Qiao Family Compound of the Jiangnan region,” firstly because its founding ancestor Zhu Ke Bin was a legendary merchant from Wuzhou during the Qing era, and secondly due to the grandeur of the Lingyan Manor within the village.

The founding ancestor of Xin Guang Village, Zhu Zhao, served as the Tongpan of Wuzhou during the Northern Song Dynasty, and after retirement, he settled on the west street of Pujiang County. The thirteenth-generation ancestor Zhu Sheng moved to Shangzhai at Wushapian along the Qianxi Stream in the second year of the Hongwu era (1369) (currently Zhifeng Village, also known as the old Zhu residence). The twenty-third-generation ancestor Zhu Ke Bin (also known as Lingyan) began constructing the new Lingyan Manor at Yingjiafan (now Xin Guang Village, the new Zhu residence) around the year 1740. During the Jiaqing era, Zhu Ke Bin’s descendants, Zhu Shegang, further expanded the Lingyan Manor. The main body of the Xin Guang Village ancient architectural complex is the family manor where the Zhu clan resided.

The core layout of Lingyan Manor features a “well”-shaped arrangement, centered around the family hall Yici Hall. On both sides are the residences of Zhu Ke Bin, with the living spaces of his four sons situated further out. The entire manor includes five halls, five gardens, and six ponds. It combines landscaped gardens with vegetable plots, making it suitable for both scholarly pursuits and comfortable living. Xin Guang Village was built around the five halls of the Zhu family, reflecting a strict hierarchy of seniority and respect, embodying the harmonious familial traditions of ancient China.

The construction materials used in the Xin Guang Village ancient architectural complex are of high quality, with refined decorations. The brick carvings, stone carvings, and wall paintings are exquisitely crafted and beautifully shaped. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but their functionality is also thoughtfully designed. The manor features a wide variety of window styles—square, round, and octagonal—each with its own unique charm. Even the methods of opening vary: some are fixed for decoration, others can be pushed outward for ventilation, and some can slide horizontally or vertically, similar to modern aluminum sliding windows. As for the street lamps along the alleys, they are cleverly designed: a square recess is carved into the wall, with a circular hole inside connecting to the inner wall. Above this is a cylindrical passage leading to the top of the wall for smoke ventilation. On either side of the wall are small hinged windows that can be opened to replace lamp oil or the lamp itself, and closed to block wind and rain. The window covers are made of gauze to allow light through, illuminating both the courtyard inside the wall and the alley outside.

On January 13, 2017, the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province designated it as part of the seventh batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units.

Xin Guang Village: Located in Yu Zhai Township, Xin Guang Village has a population of 550 and sits in the northern part of Pujiang County. Provincial Highway 20 runs through the village, directly connecting to Hangzhou. It is the first organic tea production base in Pujiang County (Malang brand Oolong Cui Feng). The village has completed projects such as the Sweet Spring Project and village road construction. It is recognized as a county-level cultural characteristic village and a municipal-level cultural heritage demonstration village, with a protection and development plan already in place. The Lingyan Ancient Manor within the village features alleyways arranged in a Bagua (Eight Trigrams) pattern, with the Four Treasures of the Study symbolically present, ancient street lamps, and rich cultural elements. It is not only a Jiangnan-style grand manor full of the legends and stories of Zhejiang merchants over the past three hundred years, but also an architectural museum showcasing fine works of Hangzhou and Huizhou art styles, and a place that holds countless hidden treasures... Xin Guang Village detailed information++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units