Fan’s Residence

Fan’s Residence

Fan’s Residence is a cultural heritage site under the protection of Haishu District.

Fan’s Residence is the largest and best-preserved Ming Dynasty residential building in Ningbo. It follows a north-south axis, featuring three main structures facing south and flanked by side rooms, forming a wooden architectural complex laid out in the shape of the Chinese character “日” (sun/day). However, when viewed from the way the rear corridors of the side rooms connect to the rear corridor of the third section and link to the front corridors of the second and third sections, it also forms the shape of the Chinese character “月” (moon), together creating a combined “日”“月” pattern symbolizing “明” (bright/ming). This design not only draws inspiration from the naming of the Sun and Moon Lakes in Ningbo but also enriches the concept, reflecting the designer’s ingenuity. The residence was renovated in 1996 and later converted into a cultural marketplace, becoming a scenic structure within the Moon Lake scenic area and along Zhongshan Road. The residence has three sections, with the overall structure and some decorations still relatively well preserved, though parts of the interior have been damaged or altered. The gate tower has been destroyed, leaving only square stone pillars. The first section mainly features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, spanning three bays with two side passages and including left and right side rooms. The central bay uses a post-and-lintel system, with the column heads at the front and rear eaves having entasis, supporting a cross-shaped bracket set atop drum-shaped column bases. The side bays use a through-tenon system, sharing the same column arrangement as the central bay. The two side rooms are closely attached to the left and right passages along the partition walls, using smaller materials than those in the main hall. In terms of beam processing and decoration, this section is more exquisitely crafted than the other two, with smooth and lively line carvings on elements such as the moon beams and spandrel brackets. Both the upper and lower edges of the screen wall feature carved bricks with scrolling patterns. The second section largely shares the same structural style as the first, but with additional buildings arranged on the east and west sides running north–south, differing from the side rooms in the first section. These buildings extend north–south and connect with the side rooms of the first section, linking with the rear section to form an enclosed architectural complex. The rear section is a double-eave hip-and-gable roof structure, with slightly upturned eave corners. On the upper level, straight wooden balustrades are placed in front of the windows to provide light, ventilation, and security.

Yuehu Subdistrict: Established in 1992, Yuehu Subdistrict of Haishu District is located in the city center of Ningbo. It stretches from Jiefang Road in the east to Changchun Road in the west, neighbors the five-star Nanyuan Hotel to the south, and borders Zhongshan Road to the north. It was formed by merging the former Xianxue, Huxi, and Cangqiao subdistricts. The subdistrict covers an area of 2.07 square kilometers, with 16,492 permanent households and a population of 41,775 residents. It has seven community neighborhood committees. The area boasts a long history and rich cultural landscape, including the Tianyi Pavilion—the oldest private library in Asia, also known as the “Nanguo Book City”—as well as the long-established Buddhist sacred site, the Lay Buddhist Forest… More details about Yuehu Subdistrict ++