Zang Family Mansion

Zang Family Mansion

The Zang Family Mansion is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

The Zang Family Mansion is situated on the north side of the middle section of Xinhua Street in the urban area of Jieshou City, 100 meters south of the Shahe River, 20 meters east of Jiaomen Street, 20 meters west of the Health Road intersection, and 40 meters north of Zhigong Street. It was the former residence of Zang Zhiping, a patriotic general from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period. Born in Jieshou in 1869, Zang grew up in poverty. As an adult, driven by circumstances, he joined the Qing army. During the warlord conflicts of the late Qing and early Republican era, he distinguished himself through exceptional courage and gradually rose through the military ranks. He was sent to study at the Jilin Military Preparatory School, and after completing his studies, he advanced from a common officer to become the commander of the 14th Brigade of the Beiyang Government, the garrison commander of Zhangting, and the commander of the 3rd Army in Fujian’s Jian’ou region. He ultimately became a key figure influencing affairs in Fujian. Over his nearly thirty-year military career, Zang consistently upheld national righteousness, supported democracy, and actively responded to Sun Yat-sen’s progressive ideals, playing a crucial role in the eventual victory of the Northern Expedition.

The Zang Family Mansion was commissioned by Zang Zhiping amidst his busy military duties and was personally overseen by appointed builders as a comfortable residence for his family, as well as a symbol of family honor. Additionally, in the early years after the liberation, the mansion served as the initial site of the Jieshou Municipal Government, giving it significant revolutionary historical importance. The existing Zang Family Mansion is located in the middle section of Xinhua Street in Jieshou’s urban area, covering an area of 912 square meters, and features the typical architectural style of a large northern courtyard house from the late Qing and early Republican periods. The mansion faces south onto the street and consists of a two-courtyard layout, with a total of 33 rooms including the main house, wing rooms, side rooms, and reverse-facing rooms (30 of which remain today).

In addition to its distinctive overall layout and structure, the mansion also has some uniquely designed details. For example, while the walls appear very thick, they are not solid. There are gaps in between that can be filled with soil or broken bricks, serving functions such as theft prevention and thermal insulation—keeping the interior warm in winter and cool in summer.

At the second gate of the Zang Family Mansion, reporters observed that beneath each wooden column there is a stone component. According to explanations, this component is called a column base. Originally, wooden columns in direct contact with the ground would rot over time due to prolonged moisture, compromising the structural integrity and safety of the building. Therefore, the ancients added a stone column base at the base of the wooden columns.

The Zang Family Mansion not only holds high cultural relic value but also occupies a special place in the historical development of Jieshou City. In 1947, Jieshou was the first city in the Yu-Wan-Su Border Region to be liberated, becoming a directly administered municipality of the region. The People's Democratic Government of Jieshou City in the Yu-Wan-Su Border Region was then established, and the Zang Family Mansion served as the earliest office location of that government.

The mansion’s architecture is relatively well-preserved and includes the main gate tower, the second gate tower, and buildings outside the west courtyard wall, totaling more than 30 rooms. These structures are all tall, spacious, dignified, simple, and robust, featuring the typical architectural style of the Republican era.

On June 26, 1985, it was designated as a county-level key cultural relic protection unit by the Jieshou County Government. In 1990, when Jieshou was re-designated from a county to a city, it was upgraded to a municipal-level key cultural relic protection unit. In October 2004, it was approved and announced as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit by the provincial government.

Protected area: The main structure of the Zang Family Mansion and its surrounding wall foundations, spanning 27 meters in width (east-west) and 49 meters in length (north-south).

Construction control zone: 33 meters in width (east-west) and 49 meters in length (north-south).

Source: Website of the Jieshou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government

Zang Zhiping (1869–1944), a native of Chengguan, Jieshou. Coming from a poor family in his youth, he made a living by selling water. Due to life pressures, he joined the Qing army, initially serving as a battalion commander under the First Brigade Commander Zhang Huaizhi, and later under Feng Guozhang’s forces. In the 33rd year of the Guangxu reign (1907), he was selected to study at the Jilin Military Preparatory School and returned to service after completing his studies. In November of the 2nd year of the Republic of China (1913), he was appointed by the Beiyang Government as the commander of the 14th Mixed Brigade. On September 12 of the 6th year of the Republic of China (1917), he was named the garrison commander of Zhangting. The following year, he was stationed in Xiamen and promoted to commander of the 2nd Division of Fujian, serving under the Anhui Clique’s Li Houji. … More detailed information on Zang Zhiping ++