Former Residence of the Sage of Calligraphy Scenic Area

Former Residence of the Sage of Calligraphy Scenic Area

The Former Residence of the Sage of Calligraphy Scenic Area is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Former Residence of the Sage of Calligraphy is located among a large expanse of ancient residential buildings south of Jishan Hill in Shaoxing. It stretches from Zhongxing Road in the east to Shengli Road in the south, from Jiefang Road in the west to North Huancheng Road in the north, covering a total planned area of approximately 0.8 square kilometers. It is currently one of the most well-preserved historical districts in downtown Shaoxing, boasting uniquely advantageous geographical, cultural, and historical resources. Scattered throughout its lanes are the former residence of Cai Yuanpei, Jiezhu Lecture Temple, Jishan Academy, Inscribed Fan Bridge, Tanhua Archway, and Taiping Heavenly Kingdom murals. Traditional-style residences, narrow alleys, stone bridges, and flowing streams exude a strong Jiangnan ambiance.

From 2001 to 2006, the municipal government invested 150 million yuan to renovate and protect the roads and waterway facilities in the Former Residence of the Sage of Calligraphy area, adhering to the principles of “focused protection, reasonable retention, partial renovation, and general improvement,” as well as “restoring the old as new while maintaining harmonious styles.” The renovated layout features residences facing the street and backing onto the river, with covered corridors, docks, whitewashed walls along the banks, arched paths, flower bushes, and willow shadows—all conveying charm without a single word, reflecting the dependence of people's lives on water. The street-facing residences were restored in the Qing Dynasty style, with flagstone roads, horse-head walls, covered walkways, wooden doors and windows, white walls with black tiles, bamboo-screen gates, dark wooden colonnades, and traditional Shaoxing residences dominated by brown paint tones, all in harmonious and elegant tones that showcase the architectural characteristics of the ancient city of Shaoxing.

To explore the cultural heritage of the ancient city of Shaoxing, the most important aspect lies in its traditional gated residences, or “taimen.” Within the Former Residence of the Sage of Calligraphy, there are over 70 taimen distributed along just three axial lines in a shape resembling the Chinese character “工” (work). Some say that taimen are the roots of Shaoxing as a famous city—without them, Shaoxing would be a rootless city. Taimen are a type of communal residence unique to the Jiangnan region, where families of the same clan live together. Similar to Beijing’s siheyuan (courtyard houses), they can also be regarded as distinctive representatives of traditional Chinese residential architecture. The naming of Shaoxing’s taimen is quite particular. Official taimen are usually named after the owner’s official rank or academic honors, such as Tanhua Taimen (Top-Scorer’s Gate) or Jieyuan Taimen (Number-One Scholar’s Gate), while residential taimen are often named after the owner’s surname, such as Li Family Taimen, Wang Family Taimen, or Yang Family Taimen. Some have humorous names based on the owner’s profession, gate design, or other unique features, such as Xibei Taimen (Tin Foil Gate), Dangdian Taimen (Pawnshop Gate), Yangtie Taimen (Galvanized Iron Gate), Loudi Taimen (Leaky-Bottom Gate), or Po Taimen (Broken Gate)—names that immediately reveal the origin of the residence and give clues about its residents. Taimen are the deepest and most mysterious scenery within the Former Residence of the Sage of Calligraphy, hiding the most exquisite culture and most enchanting charm of Jiangnan. They are also faithful recorders and witnesses of Shaoxing’s history.

Address: East side of Jiemin Cinema, Cai Yuanpei Square, North Jiefang Road, Yuecheng District, Shaoxing City (Tourist Center)

Type: Featured Neighborhood

Recommended Visiting Time: 2–4 hours

Phone: 0575-88993399

Opening Hours:

8:30-17:00

Transportation

By Car:

In downtown Shaoxing, take bus 52, 312, or 5 to Xianheng Hospital, and you will see Cai Yuanpei Square.

By Bus:

In downtown Shaoxing, take bus 52, 312, or 5 to Xianheng Hospital, and you will see Cai Yuanpei Square.

Ticket:

60 RMB, but the scenic area is an open neighborhood and can be entered for free.