Gaoqian Ancient Residential Houses

Gaoqian Ancient Residential Houses

The Gaoqian ancient residential complex is located in the scenic and picturesque Xianju Scenic Area. Situated within Baita Town in the western part of the region, it lies 19 kilometers from the county seat and is embraced by mountains and water.

The ancient residential group is vast in scale, exquisitely laid out, well-preserved, and has thrived for hundreds of years. The residences feature elegant exteriors, simple facades, sturdy frameworks, and are especially renowned for the exquisite stone and wood carvings inlaid on window and door frames. These stone and wood carvings are delicately crafted, featuring diverse styles—some rustic, some symmetrical, some simple, some intricate, some bold and vigorous, others fine and meticulous. They represent a concentrated expression of ancient Chinese residential carving art and hold high value for both appreciation and research. Particularly noteworthy are the openwork wood carvings of animals and flowers, as well as the relief wood carvings depicting figures and stories, which are truly breathtaking.

Gaoqian Ancient Residential Houses is a settlement of the Wu clan, preserving thirteen ancient courtyard homes built during the Ming and Qing dynasties in imitation of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. It is a typical residence of a prominent Jiangnan family. The Wu clan originated from the Five Dynasties period (Liang Dynasty), beginning with Yin Qing, an official of the Guanglu Doctorate rank. Historically, the clan produced distinguished figures such as Wu Fu, a direct scholar of the Dragon Diagram Pavilion during the Northern Song Dynasty; Wu Jian, the Left Prime Minister of the Southern Song Dynasty; and Wu Shilai, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Ming Dynasty. By the seventeenth generation, Shu Gong, the Deputy Yuan Shuai of Eastern Zhejiang, also holding the titles of Huaiyuan General and Magistrate of Xianju County, came to reside in Gaoqian.

To this day, villagers still live and go about their daily lives within the Gaoqian Ancient Residential Houses. The villagers are naturally cheerful, skillful with their hands, and live simple lives, maintaining quite a few traditional customs such as spinning, tying sashes, weaving straw shoes, pounding rice cakes, and conducting Buddhist ceremonies. The coexistence of people and ancient houses complements one another, presenting a peaceful scene free from worldly strife that leaves visitors filled with envy.