The Former Residence Complex of the Yu Family in Longshan

The Former Residence Complex of the Yu Family in Longshan

The Former Residence Complex of the Yu Family in Longshan is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

The Former Residence Complex of the Yu Family in Longshan (referred to as the Yu Family Former Residence) is located in Shanzhai Village, Longshan Town. This building is an East-meets-West courtyard constructed by Yu Qiaqing, a representative figure of the Ningbo business community, after making his fortune in Shanghai. The entire structure blends traditional Chinese architecture with Western architectural art, featuring grand scale, unique style, exquisite craftsmanship, and representing a relatively high level of construction techniques at that time. It is an outstanding example of modern Chinese architecture.

The Yu Family Former Residence faces south with a slight eastward orientation of 22 degrees. The existing main structure consists of five courtyards, spanning 59 meters in width and 94 meters in depth, covering a land area of 5,546 square meters and a built-up area of 5,670 square meters. The first three courtyards were initially built in 1916 and completed in 1919. Construction of the last two courtyards began in 1926 and was finished in 1929. The front and rear sections are separated by a 59-meter-long, 3.6-meter-wide corridor, forming two relatively independent yet cohesive wholes. The layout follows a central axis throughout, with symmetrical and well-ordered arrangement, distinct layers, visually divided yet naturally connected spaces, and smooth transitions — serving as a successful example of East-West architectural fusion in modern times.

The first three courtyards embody traditional Chinese architectural styles. The first courtyard features a memorial archway-style gatehouse. Its main façade has a small eight-character brick-carved lintel structure with the inscription “Tian Lun Le Xu” (Family Harmony). The second courtyard consists of a main hall and side rooms, comprising nine rooms and two corridors, spanning 44.79 meters in width and 10.92 meters in depth. The main hall has three bays, originally hung with a large plaque inscribed with “Tian Xu Tang” (Hall of Family Joy), symbolizing familial harmony; beams, brackets, spandrels, and door frames are carved with motifs such as historical tales, phoenixes playing with peonies, deer holding lingzhi mushrooms, plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, and lions playing with balls, all highlighting a strong ethnic character of prosperity and good fortune. The third courtyard includes a nine-room, two-corridor rear building with a post-and-lintel timber structure, and its main façade has been later modified to feature a strong Western style.

The last two courtyards are Western-style buildings, forming a self-contained complex with high walls and deep courtyards. They consist of a main building and a rear building, each with nine rooms and two corridors divided into three units: two bedrooms and one living room. The 14-meter-deep front courtyard is enclosed by a 6-meter-high wall. The main building’s ground is elevated on piers, with a 0.6-meter-high platform base, spanning 55.65 meters in width and 15.52 meters in depth. The platform base, step edges, wall bases, door frames, and columns are all made of high-quality Meiyuan stone. The interior is paved with colorful mosaic tiles featuring fish-scale patterns, with olive branch designs at the corners. The materials are premium and workmanship exquisite, with lattice windows and stained glass, giving the entire structure a magnificent and opulent feel, representing the finest part of the rear section. The rear building is smaller than the main one, with a simpler structure and connected to the main building via a corridor.

Additionally, to the right of Tian Xu Tang lies a small garden that once featured a row of exquisite Spanish-style villas with a pond in front, serving as a leisure space for entertaining distinguished guests. Today, only remnants of the garden remain.

The architectural techniques of the Yu Family Former Residence exemplify a perfect integration of traditional Chinese and foreign architectural cultures, possessing extremely high historical, artistic, and scientific value. In 1997, the Cixi Municipal People's Government designated Yu Qiaqing’s former residence as a Cultural Relics Protection Unit in the fourth batch. In 2001, the State Council listed the Former Residence Complex of the Yu Family in Longshan as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in the fifth batch. In 2004, the Cixi Municipal People's Government allocated 5 million yuan to comprehensively renovate the Yu Family Former Residence, restoring its historical appearance. A cultural relics protection office was subsequently established, along with expanded historical exhibits, opening it to the public.

Address: No. 17 Qiaqing Road, Cixi City, Ningbo

Type: Historical Architecture

Rating: AAA

Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

Opening Hours:

8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Ticket Information:

Gate Price: 20.0 RMB

Yu Qiaqing (1867–1945), born in Shanzhai Village, Longshan Town, Cixi, Zhejiang, started as an apprentice in Shanghai in his early years and urged shops to reopen during the May Fourth Movement. In 1920, he co-founded the Shanghai Securities & Commodities Exchange and served as its chairman. In 1923, he was elected president of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce. During the War of Resistance against Japan, he remained steadfast in patriotism; after the Japanese occupied the concession, he moved to Chongqing to manage transport along the Burma Road in support of the war effort. He passed away in Chongqing on April 26, 1945, and was buried in his hometown of Longshan.

Childhood Anecdotes

Yu Qiaqing was born in 1867 into a poor family. His father’s name was Wan... More details about Yu Qiaqing ++

Shanzhai Village: Located in the eastern part of Cixi City, Shanzhai Village borders National Highway 329 to the south and Fulongshan Village to the north. By the end of 2007, the village covered an area of 4.6 square kilometers, had a registered population of 2,147, 938 households, 74 Party members, and 8 villager groups. The village had a total of 1,985 mu of arable land and 3,024 mu of forested land. In 2007, the total social output value of the village reached 120 million yuan, with 800,000 yuan in collective available funds and an average per capita income of 9,620 yuan for farmers.

Shanzhai Village is home to the Fulongshan Scenic Area and the national cultural relic protection unit — the Yu Family Residence... More details about Shanzhai Village ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level