Cheng Wenbing’s Former Residence

Cheng Wenbing’s Former Residence

Cheng Wenbing’s Former Residence is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

Cheng Wenbing’s Former Residence

Cheng Wenbing’s Former Residence is located in Yuanzhai Town, Yingdong District, Fuyang City. It was built by Cheng Wenbing, the Qing Dynasty Viceroy of the Yangtze River Navy, and construction began during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, over 120 years ago. Covering an area of 6,700 square meters, the residence features a brick-and-wood structure spread across three courtyards. The Qing-era buildings are two-story houses, with doors and windows adorned with geometric carvings that display rich variations. Corridors on both sides connect the front and rear courtyards, and the entire complex is adorned with appropriately placed and exquisitely crafted brick carvings, wood carvings, and stone carvings arranged in a well-distributed and skillful manner.

The original residence had more than 100 rooms. After being taken over by the public after liberation, part of it was converted into a grain station and another part into a kindergarten. It suffered significant damage during the Cultural Revolution. Currently, over 50 rooms remain well-preserved. In accordance with the principle of “rescue first, protection foremost,” in April 2004, the Yingdong District People’s Government designated Cheng Wenbing’s Former Residence as a “county-level cultural relic protection unit” and allocated some funds to relocate the kindergarten out of the residence.

Main Hall Building

The existing northern residence is a traditional quadrangle courtyard. The main house is a two-story building with a brick-and-wood structure, the wing rooms on the east and west sides are single-story, and the southern side is the entrance courtyard. From this gate, one can pass through the southern residence directly to the horse-riding gate tower of the Cheng family compound. The floral-patterned windows of the northern residence and the east-west wing rooms have withstood a century of weathering yet remain intact and exquisite. Residential buildings with such Jiangnan-style features are unique in northwestern Anhui.

Interior Structure of the Main House

In accordance with relevant laws and regulations on cultural relic protection and the spirit of the “Five Inclusions” in cultural relic work, and adhering to the principle of “responsibility for the land under one’s jurisdiction,” the Yingdong District People’s Government carried out repairs and comprehensive surveys of Cheng Wenbing’s Former Residence. In April 2000, it was officially approved as a “county-level cultural relic protection unit,” with a controlled zone established to ensure the proper preservation of this classic-style ancient building. In 2005, “Cheng Wenbing’s Former Residence” was officially listed as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit, and the residence is currently under restoration.

Protected Area: 5 meters to the east outside the heritage site, 25 meters to the south to the center of Zhongyuan Street, 5 meters to the west beyond the enclosing wall, and 5 meters to the north beyond the enclosing wall.

Construction Control Zone: Outside the protected area, extending to Wenbing Road to the east, the northern side of the inner embankment of the Yinghe River to the south, Zhonghua Road to the west, and Kangzhuang Road to the north.

Yuanzhai Town: Located 13 kilometers east of downtown Fuyang City, Yuanzhai Town in Yingdong District covers an area of 56 square kilometers. It governs 26 village (residential) committees, 160 natural villages, 381 villager groups, 13,776 households, with a total population of 62,000, including 59,000 agricultural residents and approximately 40,000 acres of arable land.

The town enjoys a superior geographical location. It lies south of the Yinghe River, with the Fuyang–Koubei Highway, the Fuyang–Huainan Railway, and the Jih River passing through. Transportation is convenient. The soil types include sandy soil, silt soil, and black soil, all of which are fertile.

The town’s Party committee and government adhere to the guidance of the - theory and the important thought of “-”, with the goal of “ten…… More details about Yuanzhai Town++