Xifan Hall

Xifan Hall

Xifan Hall is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

Xifan Hall is located in Lingxia Village, Yongfeng Township, Huangshan District, Huangshan City.

It was the former residence of Du Guanying, an official of the Qing Dynasty and a famous anti-French hero. Xifan Hall was built in the 11th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1885 AD) and has a history of more than 120 years. In 2004, it was announced by the People's Government of Anhui Province as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit. The main structure of Xifan Hall consists of three courtyards and three-bay-wide sections, built with a brick-and-wood structure. There are wing rooms on both sides, and the rear section features a three-bay covered corridor. The diagonal braces, spandrels, and beam supports inside the hall are all carved with patterns of birds and beasts such as dragons, phoenixes, and lions, as well as floral designs. The front of the rear section is decorated with lattice doors, and the door panels are inscribed with family mottos and famous quotes—all words of wisdom intended to guide and admonish future generations, rich in philosophy. A golden-plated plaque hangs in the central hall of the front courtyard, inscribed with three bold running-script characters: “Xifan Hall.” The hall is 18.8 meters wide, 29 meters deep, with an eave height of 8.2 meters, and covers a construction area of 728.12 square meters.

Du Guanying was originally from Zhuocun Village, Jingyang, Taiping County, Anhui (now Zhuocun Village, Yongfeng Township, Huangshan District, Huangshan City). In March 1885, when French Admiral Courbet led the Far East Fleet to attack Zhenhai, Du Guanying and garrison commander Wu Jie personally directed the defense. After several days and nights of fierce battle, they sank two French warships, the "Nouvelle" and the "D'Estaing," while the French flagship "Bayard" was also hit multiple times. Courbet himself was seriously wounded and fled in disgrace. The Qing court awarded Du Guanying a plaque inscribed with the words “Valiant Deeds Deserving of Praise,” promoted him to the third-rank official rank, and appointed him as a provisional Dao official. Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty also issued three volumes of the “Imperial Decree from Heaven,” posthumously honoring Du Guanying’s great-grandfather, grandfather, and father as “Tongfeng Dafu,” and his great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother as “Furen.” These three volumes of “Imperial Decrees from Heaven” are now housed in the Huangshan District Museum.

Protected area: 3.3 meters east, 13.2 meters south, 20 meters west, 13.3 meters north.

Construction control zone: 50 meters east, 46 meters south, 20 meters west, 40 meters north beyond the protected area.

Du Guanying (1840–1890), styled Yunsheng, also known as Zhengsan, was a native of Zhuocun Village, Yongfeng Township. He was a renowned general in the resistance against France.

As a young man, he studied Confucian classics and demonstrated courage and insight. For his achievements in overseeing military provisions and maritime transport in Tianjin, he was conferred the title of Prefect. In the third year of the Guangxu reign (1877), he served as Tongzhi (deputy magistrate) of Yuhuan (now Yuhuan, Zhejiang). During his tenure, he was ordered to reclaim over 30,000 mu of farmland on Nan'tian and surrounding islands, and oversaw the construction of 12 coastal artillery forts in Zhenhai and WenTai to defend against foreign threats. He also cleared up backlogged legal cases, compiled household registries, developed water conservancy projects, cracked down on pirates, and promoted education. He founded the Yuhai Academy and petitioned the educational commissioner to increase Yuhuan’s student quota by one—a move that significantly improved local governance and earned him deep respect among the people.... More details about Du Guanying ++