Fang Wentai Residence

Fang Wentai Residence

The Fang Wentai Residence is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Anhui Province.

The Fang Wentai Residence is a brick-and-wood structure in the shape of a square courtyard, featuring three bays and two courtyards, and is a multi-story building. On the ground floor, the central bay of the front courtyard serves as the entrance hall, flanked by side rooms. The rear courtyard’s central bay functions as a living room, while the side bays are bedrooms. On the upper floor, the central bay houses an ancestral shrine. Between the two courtyards lies a long, narrow courtyard, with corridor rooms on both sides; the staircase is located inside the right corridor room. The bottom of the column bases remains square, with vertical edges tapering inward, the square corners carved into concave arcs. The upper four corners are beveled and chiseled into irregular octagons, then further recessed and rounded. All window frames and mullions are either grid-patterned or feature "corner-joined" tenon joints. The window railings are in the early form of balustrades, with lotus petal carvings on the tops of the balusters. The upper part of the railing features three exquisitely carved cloud brackets, while the lower section is inlaid with finely crafted openwork floral panels, with openwork grids at the center. The arched railings on the upper floor are the most prominent feature of the residence. Between the ridge posts of the central bay, seat boards are installed, and the railing extends outward, curving beyond the eaves columns to form “flying chairs.” The lower skirt boards of the railing are entirely decorated with framed lattice gates, delicate and intricately carved, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.