Former Residence of Wang Jialu in Guogang

Former Residence of Wang Jialu in Guogang

The former residence of Wang Jialu in Guogang is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Fujian Province.

The former residence of Wang Jialu in Guogang is located at No. 55, Guogang Village, Qianting Town, Zhangpu County, dating back to the Qing Dynasty.

Description: Constructed in the year of Dingyou during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1897), it was originally a private residence built by Wang Jialu of the Qing era, and now functions as the ancestral hall of the Wang family’s minor branch in Guogang. It spans a land area of 1,200 square meters and has a construction area of 887 square meters. The building faces west and is oriented eastward, consisting of a front courtyard, front hall, central courtyard, water passage corridor rooms, and the main hall. The front hall is three bays wide and two bays deep, with the central bay recessed inward. Above the main gate is a stone plaque inscribed with “Wang Family Minor Branch,” dated “Built in the year of Guangxu Dingyou.” The main hall is three bays wide and three bays deep, with a carved screen installed on the front eaves. The central bay enshrines the spirit tablet of Wang Jialu, inscribed with “Kapitan of the Kingdom of Dai and Wang Yu” along with English text. Wang Jialu (1860–1950), also known as Wang Baiyou, was a native of Guogang Village in Zhangpu. In his youth, he worked in Xiamen, and at the age of 20, he traveled across the seas to Indonesia to seek a livelihood. He became a renowned industrialist and was appointed by the Dutch colonists as the leader managing a regional area of the Chinese community, holding the title of “Kapitan.”

Protected Area: Extends 50 meters eastward, 30 meters westward, and 10 meters both southward and northward.

In 2018, the former residence of Wang Jialu in Guogang was designated as part of the ninth batch of provincial-level cultural heritage sites by the People's Government of Fujian Province.

Guogang Village: Guogang Village is situated at the southern foot of Mount Nantaiwu, bordering Jiangkou Bay to the south, Tianzhongyang Village to the east, and separated from Weizai Village and Gutai Natural Village by Dazhai Mountain to the west, extending north to Changbeinei Natural Village. Originally, there was a waterway between Guogang and Tianzhongyang, requiring people to cross by boat or wade through. Now, the waterway no longer exists, which is how the village got its name, Guogang (meaning “crossing the harbor”). It is approximately 40 kilometers from the Xiamen Special Economic Zone, with the Qianting Highway passing behind the village.

[Village and Residences] The village covers an area of 3.9 square kilometers and consists of four natural villages: Guogang, Wujiaotou, Houduan, and Wangcuowei, with eight villager groups.

[Historical Evolution] Guogang since…… Detailed information on Guogang Village++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites in Fujian Province