Shangzhuang Ancient Architectural Complex

Shangzhuang Ancient Architectural Complex

The Shangzhuang Ancient Architectural Complex is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Era: Ming to Republican period

Address: Jixi County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province

The Shangzhuang Ancient Architectural Complex mainly includes the Former Residence of Hu Shi, Hu Shi’s Private School, the Former Residence of Hu Chuan, the Residence of Hu Shouji, Dunlv Hall, the Former Residence of Hu Kaiwen, and the Hu Kaiwen Memorial Hall, among other ancient buildings. Among them, the Former Residence of Hu Shi was built during the Qing Dynasty and was the home where Hu Shi spent his childhood and returned for his wedding in his youth. Mr. Hu Shi lived in the residence for 11 years; Hu Shi’s Private School was built in the late Qing Dynasty, with two courtyards, and was where Hu Shi received his early education; the Former Residence of Hu Chuan was built in the early Qing Dynasty, a three-bay hall-style building, and was the ancestral home where Hu Shi’s father, Hu Chuan, was born and raised; the Residence of Hu Shouji was built in the late Qing Dynasty, a Huizhou-style artistic building integrating calligraphy and carving. Hu Shouji was a student of Hu Shi, a Xinhua News Agency journalist, and a member of the same clan; Dunlv Hall was built in the Ming Dynasty, featuring an upper and lower story connected on the second floor, and is the only surviving Ming Dynasty building in Shangzhuang Village; the Former Residence of Hu Kaiwen was built in the Qing Dynasty, with two courtyards, and was the first Western-style residential house built in our county based on foreign architectural styles; the Hu Kaiwen Memorial Hall was built in the Qing Dynasty, also an upper and lower story connected on the second floor building, self-established as a memorial hall by the direct descendants of Hu Kaiwen. It is a Huizhou-style building that integrates architecture, aesthetics, and functionality, and has been used as an original specimen for the study of ancient architecture by the provincial architectural community.

Hu Shi’s Former Residence:

Located at No. 28 Shilu, Shangzhuang Village, Shangzhuang Town, Jixi County, Xuancheng City. Hu Shi (1891–1962), courtesy name Shizhi, was a renowned modern Chinese educator and cultural figure. He was awarded 35 honorary doctorates and had significant influence both domestically and internationally. Hu Shi’s Former Residence was built in the 23rd year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1897), consisting of two three-courtyard complexes forming a front and rear hall, with interconnected second floors. Facing south, it covers a construction area of 300 square meters, with a flush-gable roof and horse-head walls. In front of the gate is a courtyard, and the gate itself is built from finely carved bluestone bricks, with upturned eaves and soaring mythical fish carvings. Four brick carvings on the beams depict the following scenes: Liu Bei’s Marriage Proposal, Jiang Ziya Fishing, Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage, and Li Bai Drunk. The carvings vary in intricacy but are exquisitely crafted. The front hall is three bays wide, with the central bay serving as a living room, and bedrooms located on the east and west sides. The western bedroom was once Hu Shi’s childhood room and his bridal chamber. The rear hall has a similar layout to the front but is slightly smaller, with a kitchen on the east side. The wooden lattice windows and door panels inside the residence are all carved with flat-bottomed intaglio designs of orchids and magnolia. The spandrels and braces are also adorned with fine carvings. These carvings were all created by Hu Guobin, a master carver of ink molds from the Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory. Over a hundred items such as Hu Shi’s personal letters, manuscripts, works, photographs, relics, and related materials are displayed in the south-facing study, the eastern wing room, and the western sedan hall. In May 1998, it was announced as a Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit, with approval document number Wan Zheng [1998] No. 16.

Protected Area: 1.6 meters east, 1.8 meters south, 1.6 meters west, and 1.8 meters north outside the courtyard of Hu Shi’s Former Residence.

Construction Control Zone: 28 meters east, 80 meters south, 72 meters west, and 28 meters north beyond the protected area, with approval document number Wan Cultural Relics [2000] No. 050.

Hu Chuan’s Former Residence:

In October 2004, it was elevated to a Provincial Protection Unit and incorporated into Hu Shi’s Former Residence. This residence is located at No. 120 Huan Cun South Road, Shangzhuang Village, Jixi County, Xuancheng City. Shangzhuang Village is surrounded by overlapping mountains and green waters, boasting beautiful scenery. Since its establishment in the Yuan Dynasty, the area has always been densely populated and rich in literary culture, giving rise to generations of historical figures. Among them, Hu Chuan and Hu Shi, father and son, are outstanding figures in the village’s history. Both father and son adhered to family scholarship and achieved success in their respective fields. Hu Chuan served as an official in his prime, following the late Qing Dynasty general Wu Dacheng and remaining loyal to the Qing court, gaining some recognition in military and political affairs. Hu Shi, on the other hand, became a cultural giant of his era, whose knowledge and contributions were admired by people across the world, making him one of the most significant contributors to Chinese literature in the past century.

Hu Chuan’s Former Residence is situated on the main road southwest of Shangzhuang Village, facing south, with an appearance that is simple and rustic. It is a building from the mid-to-early Qing Dynasty, covering an area of 145.80 square meters. It is a single-building structure with an upper and lower hall, consisting of a front hall, courtyard, main hall, upper and lower east and west wing rooms, as well as a kitchen and other auxiliary rooms. The structure is largely intact. Each part of the residence features simple and rugged construction, giving off a strong sense of antiquity and exceptional solemnity.

Protected Area: 10 meters in all directions—east, south, west, and north. East to the building of Hu Shiji, south to the water channel and vegetable garden, west to the main house of Hu Mingwen, north to the houses of Hu Shouji and Hu Shanmin.

Controlled Construction Zone: 20 meters in all directions—east, south, west, and north. East to the building of Wang Qiushi, south to the main house of the Hu family, west to the main house of Hu Jiusheng, north to the main house of Hu Yunbing. Approval document number Wan Cultural Relics Bao (2009) No. 98.

Hu Shi’s Private School:

In October 2004, it was elevated to a Provincial Protection Unit and incorporated into Hu Shi’s Former Residence. It is located at No. 121 Huan Cheng South Road, Shangzhuang Village, Shangzhuang Town, covering an area of 140 square meters. This is a late Qing Dynasty building. It faces south, is of brick-and-wood structure, with a flush-gable roof, a post-and-lintel beam frame, square brick flooring, and consists of two courtyards with a front and rear hall, and a two-story layout. There is a courtyard in front of the main hall, with a bluestone-paved path inside the gate and flower stands on both sides. The wooden decorative components inside the house are all carved with patterns. This building was the private school where Hu Shi studied as a child.

Protected Area: 10 meters in all directions—east, south, west, and north. East to the building of Hu Wanyuan, south to the kitchen of Hu Wanyuan and the building of Hu Mingwen, west to the auxiliary building of Hu Lianqi, north to the main house of Ye Genhai.

Controlled Construction Zone: 20 meters in all directions—east, south, west, and north. East to the auxiliary building of Hu Wanyuan, south to the pigsty of Hu Mingwen, west to the main house of Ke Caizhi, north to the building of Wang Anlin. Approval document number Wan Cultural Relics Bao (2009) No. 98.

Dunlv Hall: Located at No. 49 Baizhi Road, Shangzhuang Village, Shangzhuang Town, covering an area of 145 square meters. The building faces southeast, is of brick-and-wood structure, with an upper and lower hall, interconnected on the second floor, and features fireproof walls. It has a central courtyard, with architectural features such as Dougong brackets, moon beams, eagle-beak columns, reed walls, and floorboards supported by joists, all showing distinct Ming Dynasty characteristics. A plaque inscribed with “Dunlv Hall” hangs above the center of the main room. The building underwent major repairs in the early Qing Dynasty and is largely intact, holding high cultural relic value. In May 1998, it was announced as a Provincial Protection Unit, with approval document number Wan Zheng [1998] No. 16.

Protected Area: 10 meters in all directions—east, south, west, and north. East to the main house of Hu Jiayong, south to the main house of Hu Jiadian, west to the main house of Hu Jiusheng, north to the main house of Hu Yunbing.

Controlled Construction Zone: 20 meters in all directions—east, south, west, and north. East to the main house of Hu Zhaoyun, south to the main houses of Hu Shengfa and Hu Guolin, west to the main house of Hu Enting, north to the main house of Hu Zhenhui. The protected area approval document number is Wan Cultural Relics Bao (2009) No. 98.

Hu Kaiwen’s Former Residence:

Located in Shangzhuang Village, Shangzhuang Town, facing east and west. Hu Kaiwen, whose given name was Tianzhu, founded the world-renowned “Kaiwen” ink business. The residence has two courtyards, is of brick-and-wood structure, with a flush-gable roof, and uses both raised-beam and post-and-lintel beam frames. It is three bays wide and six bays deep, covering an area of 140.5 square meters. The gate tower is designed with a blend of Chinese and Western styles. The front hall is a pavilion-style room with an arched alcove, while the rear room has a second floor and connects to the front hall. The entire structure is intact. In 1997, it was announced as a County-Level Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Protected Area: 5 meters in all directions—east, south, west, and north.

Controlled Construction Zone: 30 meters east, 10 meters south, 12 meters west, 10 meters north.

Hu Kaiwen Memorial Hall: Covering a total area of 210 square meters, this is a Qing Dynasty building that faces southwest and northeast. It is three bays wide and six bays deep, with a second floor interconnected, brick-and-wood structure, and fireproof walls. The building is well preserved. The current owner is a direct descendant of Hu Kaiwen, who voluntarily established the Hu Kaiwen Memorial Hall, displaying various types of ink made by Hu Kaiwen for visitors to view. In 1997, it was announced as a County-Level Cultural Relics Protection Unit, with approval document number Ji Zheng [1997] No. 35.

Protected Area: 5 meters in all directions—east, south, west, and north.

Controlled Construction Zone: 20 meters east, 20 meters south, 12 meters west, 10 meters north. The protected area approval document number is Ji Zheng Mi (2009) No. 81.

The Former Residence of Hu Shouji:

Located at No. 25, Shizhi Road, Shangzhuang Village, Shangzhuang Town, Jixi County, it stands just 20 meters away from the provincial-level cultural heritage site — the Former Residence of Hu Shi. Built during the Republic of China period, the residence covers an area of 315 square meters, faces south, and features a brick-and-wood structure with a combination of raised-beam and through-tenon framing systems. It has a flush-gable roof and is paved with square bricks. The main building has a ground plan in the shape of the Chinese character “亚” (Yà), with a central courtyard. The craftsmanship is exquisite, with harmonious interior and exterior decorations. The brick-carved door hood is delicate and refined, while the partition screens, low windows, bracket arms, and spandrels are all exquisitely crafted. Stepping into the residence feels like entering a museum of folk carving art. In front of the main building lies a courtyard, with wing rooms on both sides. Small towers stand to the east and west of the main building. These individual structures are closely connected, forming a small yet cohesive architectural complex that exudes simplicity and refinement. This residence is the most intact and finely crafted ancient civilian dwelling preserved in our county to date, possessing significant artistic value. From a developmental perspective, the Former Residence of Hu Shouji will play a positive role in our county’s cultural heritage preservation efforts and serve as a rare physical resource for the study of Huizhou-style ancient dwellings. In 2005, it was designated as a county-level cultural heritage protection unit, with approval document number Jizheng [2005] No. 41.

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). Approval document number for the protected area: Jizheng Mi (2009) No. 81.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites