Former Site of Huaiyuan Church Buildings

Former Site of Huaiyuan Church Buildings

The former site of Huaiyuan Church Buildings is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The former site of Huaiyuan Church Buildings is located within the campus of Huaiyuan No. 1 Middle School at Ximenkang, Houjie Street, Huaiyuan County. It includes three historic church buildings established by the American Presbyterian Church: Hanmei School, Minwang Hospital, and Minkang Hospital, covering a total area of over 60,000 square meters.

In the 29th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1903), Reverend Ke Deyi of the American Presbyterian Church came to Huaiyuan to preach and founded Hanmei School on the north side of Houjie Street. The surviving structures include the Western-style Xiaoxi Building and Zhong Building, as well as the Chinese-style Huating Hall. The Xiaoxi Building served as the office and residence of the American principal, Reverend Ke Deyi; the Zhong Building was used as classrooms for students; and the Huating Hall functioned as a reception area. In the first year of the Xuantong reign (1909), William, father of Reverend Luo Lunan from the American Presbyterian Church, founded Minwang Hospital and Minkang Hospital on the south side of Ximenkang, Houjie Street. The hospitals were divided into eastern and western sections, connected by a sky bridge. Seven buildings remain from Minwang and Minkang Hospitals, all Western-style structures constructed in 1909. Currently, all the buildings at this historical site are well-preserved.

The former site of Huaiyuan Church Buildings represents a successful fusion of classical Chinese garden design and Western architectural aesthetics, embodying a blend of practicality and artistry, and holds significant artistic and historical value.

In May 2013, the State Council (State Council Document [2013] No. 13) designated the former site of Huaiyuan Church Buildings as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

(1) Church School.

Protected Area: 30 meters outside the exterior walls of each main building.

Construction Control Zone: Outside the protected area, extending east to Jingpu Building, south to Houjie Street, and west and north to the boundary walls of Huaiyuan No. 1 Middle School.

(2) Church Hospitals.

Protected Area: 30 meters outside the exterior walls of each main building.

Construction Control Zone: Outside the protected area, extending east to the west wall of Anhui Rongjun Hospital, south to the dormitory building of Shangqiao Sluice Management Office, west to the west wall of the middle school, and north to the north wall of the Haifeng Stadium of the middle school.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units