Ancient Stone Gate Architectural Complex in Yangxi

Ancient Stone Gate Architectural Complex in Yangxi

The ancient architectural complex of Stone Gate in Yangxi is a cultural heritage site protected by Jiashan County.

The ancient architectural complex of Stone Gate (including the Zhou Clan Ancestral Hall of Stone Gate, the Residence of Gao Weiguang, the Residence of Hu Xingfeng, and the Residence of Tang Jianguo)

Located in Stone Gate Village, Yangxi Town, the structures—including the Zhou Clan Ancestral Hall of Stone Gate, the Residence of Gao Weiguang, the Residence of Hu Xingfeng, and the Residence of Tang Jianguo—are relatively well-preserved and hold high cultural heritage value.

The Zhou Clan Ancestral Hall of Stone Gate is located in Stone Gate Village, Yangxi Town, facing southeast and northwest. It covers an area of 548 square meters and is divided into three sections: front, middle, and rear. The front section has five bays in width and two in depth, with a ceremonial gate in the center, a hip-and-gable roof, fireproof gables, post-and-lintel beam construction, and bracket sets supporting the overhanging eaves. The outer eaves on the southern and northern sides have eight-shaped walls, decorated with a small amount of brick carving. Behind the gate is a courtyard with a flagstone floor, four bays in depth, featuring post-and-lintel beams and a clay-mortared floor. Further back is the shrine hall, five bays wide and two deep, with post-and-lintel beams and exquisitely carved wooden components. The ancestral hall is relatively well-preserved and holds significant cultural heritage protection value.

The Residence of Gao Weiguang is situated in Stone Gate Village, Yangxi Town, facing northeast and southwest. Built in the mid-Qing Dynasty, it covers an area of 186 square meters. The brick gate tower features simple carvings, a flush gable roof, symmetrical upper and lower halls, a central courtyard, a two-story structure with interconnected rooms, fireproof gables, and a narrow courtyard behind the screen wall. The brackets have slight decorations, and the partition screens are adorned with square meander patterns. The residence is largely intact and holds certain cultural heritage value.

The Residence of Hu Xingfeng is located in Stone Gate Village, Yangxi Town, facing east and west. It covers an area of 99 square meters, has a flush gable roof, a single-section three-bay layout, is a two-story building with a clay-mortared floor, and includes fireproof gables and a front courtyard. The wooden components feature slight carvings, and the door hood is inscribed with four seal script characters. The homeowner’s family has been practicing traditional Chinese medicine for generations and has had some influence in the Anhui medical community. The residence is relatively well-preserved and holds certain cultural heritage value.

The Residence of Tang Jianguo is located in Stone Gate Village, Yangxi Town, facing northeast and southwest. It covers an area of 140 square meters and was built in the late Qing Dynasty. The structure has a flush gable roof, a single-section three-bay layout, is a two-story building with east and west wing rooms, a clay-mortared floor, and fireproof gables. The walls bear slogans from the 1960s such as “Learn from Dazhai in Agriculture” and “Farm for the Revolution,” which are clearly legible, measuring over 4 meters in length and more than 1.5 meters in height. There is a front courtyard, and the wooden components are exquisitely carved. Both the front and rear of the gate tower feature fine brick carvings; the rear carvings were partially covered with yellow mud during the Cultural Revolution. In front of the gate tower are two bluestone mounting stones, and the steps below are made of materials sourced from Shanghai in the early 20th century, smooth and flat. The wooden structure uses eight different types of timber, symbolizing “prosperity for all eight sons.” The building is well-preserved and holds high cultural heritage value.

Stone Gate Village: Originally called Big Stone Gate, it was a key route from ancient Huizhou to Hangzhou. The name “Big Stone Gate” comes from the two stone formations resembling a lion and an elephant at the village’s water outlet, which travelers had to pass. Stone Gate Village is located in the eastern part of Yangxi Town, bordering Fuling Town to the southeast. The village covers an area of 8.1 square kilometers and includes three natural villages: Stone Gate, Lingxia, and Jinkeng. It is divided into five villager groups, with a population of 1,690. The total land area of the village is 10,408 mu. … More details about Stone Gate Village ++