Qiyi’s Residence in Willow Lane

Qiyi’s Residence in Willow Lane

Qiyi’s Residence in Willow Lane is a Wenzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Qiyi’s Residence is located at No. 36 Willow Lane, Lucheng District. It was originally built during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty by Feng Yuecheng, an official and merchant from Wenzhou, and later sold to a doctor surnamed Qi from the Blyth Memorial Hospital. The residence faces south and covers an area of approximately 500 square meters, with a total width of 17.6 meters and a depth of 30.1 meters. It consists of a gate hall, main hall, and wing rooms, forming a two-courtyard wooden structure complex. The beam framework features a mixed style of raised beams and through-tenon construction, with a flush gable roof.

The gate building is a five-bay single-story structure with a flush gable roof. The wall features brick-carved lattice windows with floral patterns. It has a depth of five columns and eight rafters, with a roof covered in small blue tiles. Outside the central bay of the gate building is an octagonal brick imitation-wooden gate tower, single-bay with a hanging gable roof. The lintel is adorned with four sets of bracket sets, and the eaves are fitted with some hooked drip tiles. Above the door is a decorative architrave.

The main hall is a five-bay single-story structure with a flush gable roof, featuring a depth of seven columns and eleven rafters. The central column reaches the floor, with front and rear post-and-lintel divisions. It has a front boat-shaped canopy veranda, a roof covered in small blue tiles, and some remaining eave drip tiles. Between the gate building and the main hall are east and west wing rooms, each three bays wide.

Behind the main hall is a small courtyard, with two wing rooms on the east and west sides, each two bays wide, featuring flush gable roofs. These were formerly used as kitchens and storage rooms. On the eastern side of the northern wall is a small brick gate tower.

The Qi family residence was built during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty by Feng Yuecheng, an official and merchant from Wenzhou who made his fortune in the copper trade. Around 1930, the family fortunes declined, and the residence was sold to Dr. Qi Wen? from the Blyth Memorial Hospital. The residential complex is a typical example of traditional Wenzhou architecture, reflecting the region’s architectural characteristics. In 2005, it was listed as part of the fifth group of Wenzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Protection Level: County (City/District)-level Cultural Relics Protection Unit

Period: Qing Dynasty

Date of Designation: August 26, 2005

Category: Ancient Architecture

Protected Area: To the east and north, the boundary extends 1 meter outward from the existing wall; to the south, it extends 2 meters outward from the existing wall; to the west, the boundary is the existing wall.

Building Control Zone: To the east and west, the boundary extends 30 meters outward from the existing wall; to the south and north, it extends 35 meters outward from the existing wall.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Group of Wenzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Units