Huangtan Three Halls

Huangtan Three Halls

Huangtan Three Halls is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Zhejiang Province.

Huangtan Three Halls is located in Huangtan, Huangtan Town, Ninghai County, Zhejiang Province, and consists of: Houyi Hall, Yishan Hall, and Keshao Hall. Each hall is named after the plaque displayed within its courtyard. These halls are historic residences of the Xiao Si Fang branch of the Yan family from Huangtan, also referred to as representing Metal, Stone, Silk, and Bamboo. They are wooden-framed structures built during the Qing Dynasty, from the Qianlong to Daoguang eras. This area was once the most concentrated site of ancient Qing Dynasty architecture in our county, originally featuring over 20 large residential courtyards. Due to fires and other reasons, five large mansions, two smaller houses, and one building remain today. The entire village is scattered with ancient dwellings that preserve the traditional character of the old settlement.

All three Huangtan Halls are clustered in the northern part of the village, forming a cohesive complex of ancient architecture. They feature rational layouts, majestic appearances, exquisite craftsmanship, and distinctive styles, with Houyi Hall being the most outstanding.

Houyi Hall, Yishan Hall, and Keshao Hall were originally built in the 44th year of Qianlong, the 11th year of Daoguang, and the 12th year of Jiaqing respectively. They are designed as traditional three-courtyard (sanheyuan) and four-courtyard (siheyuan) compounds, with individual floor areas ranging between 500 and 700 square meters. Their total built-up area is 2,371 square meters.

Houyi Hall combines exquisitely crafted brick carvings, stone carvings, and wood carvings. Yishan Hall incorporates various stone lattice windows and carved panels throughout the courtyard. Keshao Hall adopts architectural elements from Suzhou-style gardens, fusing delicate and refined garden features with the bold and unrestrained architectural style of Taizhou. This combination is unique among residential buildings in Ninghai County.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units