Anjia Courtyard

Anjia Courtyard

Anjia Courtyard is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a cultural relics protection unit of Tianjin Municipality.

Anjia Courtyard is situated to the north of Guyi Street, the most prosperous commercial street in Yangliuqing during its heyday, directly opposite Shijia Courtyard on the southern side of the street. Constructed during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, it boasts a 150-year history. Spanning more than 1,000 square meters, the property is divided into three courtyards arranged in a typical northern style of interconnected quadrangles. The front section includes a spacious courtyard with internal gates connecting the various parts, while the rear yard is split into eastern and western smaller sections. Underground remnants such as a Qing Dynasty-era gold and silver vault and a fallout shelter from the Cultural Revolution can also be found here. These three courtyards are internally connected, featuring a layout that balances density and openness, offering fluid circulation — a classic representation of the inner residence and outer courtyard structure. The original owner, An Wenzhong, was the first person from Yangliuqing to engage in the “Camp Following” trade. He pioneered the concept of “civilian support for military supplies,” providing innovative assistance to the Qing army forces led by Zuo Zongtang during their expedition to Xinjiang to safeguard China’s unity.

Anjia Courtyard was the residence of the An family of Yangliuqing, who were renowned for their role in the “Camp Following” trade. During the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, four brothers from the An family trekked to Xinjiang on foot, made their fortunes there, and eventually returned home. They purchased this grand mansion with their earnings. After the liberation, Anjia Courtyard became a shared residential compound, with the front courtyard serving as the Yangliuqing Health Clinic before the Cultural Revolution. Prior to its restoration, the site housed 27 resident families and over 30 makeshift structures of varying sizes. The restoration project of Anjia Courtyard was carried out based on extensive original documentation, incorporating design elements from the style of the “Eight Great Houses” of old Tianjin’s urban core. Using a “repair-as-original” approach, the 150-year-old estate was meticulously restored to its former glory. Additionally, the century-old wisteria and grape trellises were redesigned, and the western screen wall and connecting passageways between the two courtyards were carefully refurbished. According to the restoration engineers, Anjia Courtyard also holds two “records”: not only is its foundation 0.5 meters higher than that of Shijia Courtyard, making it the highest in Yangliuqing, but it also boasts the largest single-courtyard footprint in the area.

Address: No. 28, Guyi Street, Yangliuqing, Xiqing District

Phone: 27915591

Yangliuqing Town: Yangliuqing Town is situated at a strategic location near the capital, serving as the seat of the Xiqing District government and functioning as the political, economic, and cultural center of the district. The town lies in the western part of Tianjin, bordering Zhongbei Town and Yangliuqing Farm to the east, Zhangjiawo Town to the south, Xinkou Town to the southwest, Wuqing District to the northwest, and Beichen District to the north. It covers an administrative area of 64 square kilometers, with a built-up town area of 13 square kilometers. The town government administers 25 administrative villages and streets, along with 29 neighborhood committees, and has a total population of 120,000, making it the largest township in Tianjin and the Bohai Economic Rim.

Yangliuqing Town is located 16 kilometers from downtown Tianjin and ... Yangliuqing Town detailed information++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Tianjin Cultural Relics Protection Units