Yijing Building

Yijing Building

Yijing Building is a cultural heritage site protected by Fujian Province.

Yijing Building is located in Shangyang Village, Gaopi Town. Constructed in the first year of the Xianfeng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1851), it is a square earthen building. The outer walls are 136 meters wide from east to west and 76 meters long from north to south, covering an area of 10,336 square meters. Its rear main building stands 17 meters tall with five floors, making it the tallest existing earthen building in Yongding. On either end of the main building, there are four-story structures connected vertically, which are closely attached to a parallel four-story front building, forming a massive square enclosure—thus creating a large “square” shape.

Inside, there is another set of small “square” shaped buildings, forming a unique overall “回” (double-square) structure. It’s truly a case of “doors within doors, buildings within buildings, layer upon layer.” Locals call it the “Grand Mansion.” The center houses the ancestral hall.

On either side of the front building, there are two schools where children in the building could study on-site. In between the schools is a stone courtyard, and at the front is a grand gatehouse, with the gate standing 6 meters high and 4 meters wide. Behind the main building, there is a garden, a fishpond, as well as auxiliary structures such as a rice pestle room and cowshed. Yijing Building has a total of 280 rooms.

Yijing Building is currently known as the largest square earthen building, with a total of 267 rooms, 51 halls of various sizes, covering an area of five hectares, and a built-up area of over 4,000 square meters. The entire architectural layout is neat and methodically arranged. It took over 70 years and the efforts of three generations to complete. Locals describe its vastness by saying: a person could start opening windows at sunrise, take a break downstairs for lunch, then go back upstairs to close the windows, only finishing the last window as the sun sets.

(Image source: Sunshine Car Guide Network)

Information source: Fujian Provincial Tourism Development Commission

Shangyang Village: Shangyang Village is located in the central-southwest part of Gaopi Town, bordering Beishan Village to the east, Xibi Village to the west and south, and Mulin Village to the north. It covers an area of 42,000 square kilometers, has a population of over 3,460, 24 villager groups, 131 Party members, one complete elementary school, and established a village elderly association in 1989. It is a village with many people but little arable land and no resource-based economy.

Shangyang Village has always emphasized spiritual civilization development and has been recognized multiple times by higher authorities as a “Civilized Village,” “Hygienic Village,” and “Credit Village.” With support from higher levels, the village committee focuses on human resource development, leveraging the presence of many entrepreneurs and local expatriates... More details about Shangyang Village ++

Further reading:

· Seventh Batch of Fujian Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units