Ancestral Hall of the Xu Family & Former Residence of Yang Hucheng in Taihe

The Ancestral Hall of the Xu Family & Former Residence of Yang Hucheng in Taihe

The Ancestral Hall of the Xu Family & Former Residence of Yang Hucheng in Taihe is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

The Ancestral Hall of the Xu Family & Former Residence of Yang Hucheng in Taihe is located on West Street in Taihe County.

The Xu Family Ancestral Hall is the family shrine of Xu Guangjin, built during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty. Xu Guangjin (1797–1869), courtesy name Zhongsheng, was a native of Xuzhai in Taihe. He passed the imperial examination at the age of 24 and rose to the position of Viceroy of Liangguang and concurrently Minister of Commerce. He was also conferred the honorary title of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent and hereditary rank as First-Class Minister. Xu Guangjin’s greatest achievement in life was rejecting the British demand to enter Guangzhou City when he governed Liangguang, thereby defending national and ethnic dignity. Serving in office for 40 years, he was diligent, loved the people, maintained integrity, and did not accumulate family wealth.

When Yang Hucheng left his post in Guangzhou, he lacked the funds for the journey and had to rely on others' help to make the trip. In his later years, he retired to his hometown and lived in just a few thatched cottages. In 1927, the Nationalist Army unit under Yang Hucheng was stationed in Taihe, with its headquarters set up in the Xu Family Ancestral Hall. It was here that he married the Communist Party member Xie Baozhen, and founded the Military Cadre School of the United Army’s 10th Corps. The school was headed by the Communist Party member Nan Hanchen, with over 300 students divided into three battalions, all led by Communist battalion commanders. A special committee (the CCP Northern Anhui Special Committee) was also established within Yang Hucheng’s forces.

Yang Hucheng (November 26, 1893 – September 6, 1949) was a military leader of the Shaanxi forces during the Republican era. He came from a background as a local militiaman. At the age of 24, he composed a poem about himself: “The mountains of the northwest are high and the rivers long; how can a man grow old without leaving his hometown? The waves of the Yellow River push forward one after another—leap onto the crest and make your mark.” Since the Protect-the-Nation Uprising, he fought in countless battles without submission. He played key roles in major campaigns such as the Defense of Chang’an by Two Tigers, the surprise night attack on Tang Shengzhi in the snow, and cutting off the Northwestern Army’s retreat at Tongguan. Eventually, he became Commander of the 17th Route Army, a Second-Class General of the Army, Chairman of the Shaanxi Provincial Government, and his influence spread across most areas of Shaanxi and Gansu. Later, due to conflicts with the central government, he secretly contacted the Red Army... More details about Yang Hucheng ++