The Chen Family Residence in Yuankeng

The Chen Family Residence in Yuankeng

The Chen Family Residence in Yuankeng is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Fujian Province.

Yuankeng Town is located in the southwestern part of Shunchang County and administers 13 administrative villages, including Mowu, Chaxi, Yangfang, and Baozhuang. According to the *Shunchang County Annals*, “‘Mobo (now Mowu)’ existed before ‘Shunchang’.” The Jinxi River runs through Yuankeng, and during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was one of the important water transport routes into Fujian. The bustling water transport made Yuankeng a commercial hub at the time, leaving behind a large number of mansions. Various clans built ancestral halls to commemorate their forebears, including those of the Wu, Cai, Zhu, Zhang, Deng, Chen, and Ye families. In 2010, it was designated as a fifth batch National Historic and Cultural Town.

The Chen Family Residence is a Qing Dynasty structure, covering an area of 10,420 square meters. Within the fireproof walls, there are six large courtyards arranged side by side. Each courtyard consists of multiple connected sections, with front, middle, and rear gates, forming self-contained spaces while also interconnected via corridors. The main building includes a grand gate, front hall, covered walkway, courtyard, wing rooms, main hall, turtle-back pavilion flanked by courtyards, rear hall, and rear garden. A pair of horse-tying stones is placed on each side of the front courtyard of the main building. The main hall displays a birthday plaque inscribed with the words “Virtue Shines Like an Ancient Pine,” bestowed by Liu Yong, Minister of Personnel during the Qianlong era, for the martial arts top scholar Chen Hu.

Dongjiao Village: Located at the seat of Yuankeng Town government in Shunchang County, Dongjiao Village is 13 kilometers from the county town. The Shunchang Connector of the Yingfu Expressway runs through the village, giving it superior geographical conditions, well-developed infrastructure, and convenient transportation. The village covers a total area of 6,031 mu, including 1,028 mu of arable land and 3,294 mu of other cultivated land. The total population is 967, with jurisdiction over 8 villager groups, 2 natural villages, 249 households, and 307 rural laborers. In 2006, the village’s total social output value was 5.16 million yuan, and the per capita net income of farmers was 3,510 yuan.

Our village is situated in low hills… More details about Dongjiao Village++

Further reading:

· Seventh Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected at the Provincial Level in Fujian Province