The Ancient Architectural Complex of Shijia Village

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Shijia Village

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Shijia Village is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Anhui Province.

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Shijia Village is a provincial-level cultural heritage site, located in Shangzhuang Town, Jixi County. The village exhibits a strong traditional planning consciousness, with a well-organized layout and straight, crisscrossing streets that resemble a chessboard, hence earning the nickname “Chessboard Village.” The architectural layout of Shijia Village is unique among the ancient villages of southern Anhui and holds significant preservation value. Shijia Village was established during the late Yuan Dynasty when Shi Ronglu, a descendant of Shi Shouxin — a founding hero of the Northern Song Dynasty — relocated here and formed a natural settlement with his clan. The village has a history of 700 years. Nestled against mountains and facing water, all residences face north, adapting to the terrain while also symbolizing remembrance of their ancestral roots in Gansu. The village is laid out in a chessboard pattern, neat and square, with crisscrossing lanes paved with flagstones, one side of which features open drainage channels. At the western end of the village stands the Shi Clan Ancestral Hall. In front of the village, Peach Blossom Creek runs clear, with an arched bridge spanning over it. Both ends of the lanes are equipped with lane gates, which open in the morning and close at dusk, resembling a fortress. Each household’s courtyard is planted with pomegranate trees, symbolizing the family name. To the south of the village lies an ancestral tomb, beside which stands an ancient pine tree known as the “Ancestor-Embracing Pine.” In front of the ancestral hall is a half-acre pond, in the center of which sits a stone altar with ancient cypresses and bamboos planted on top, symbolizing Shi Shouxin’s military seal. The village currently preserves over fifty ancient residences, including representative structures such as the Kuixing Pavilion, Chengde Hall, and houses numbered 1, 5, 12, 25, 42, 2, 35, 8, 13, and 11 in Shijia Village. These ancient homes form a vital part of the village's cultural heritage. Their architectural styles are largely consistent: houses feature symmetrical layouts across upper and lower levels, with central courtyards, interconnected second floors, and exquisitely carved wooden components such as latticework, bracket arms, spandrels, dougongs, door lintels, and window panels, making this a rare and remarkable ancient architectural complex. In 2004, it was designated as part of the fifth batch of provincial-level protected sites under approval document Wan Zheng [2004] No. 82.

Protected Area: 10 meters in all directions (east, south, west, and north)

Construction Control Zone: 20 meters beyond the protected area in all directions (east, south, west, and north)

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