The Shangshu Mansion Complex in Taining

The Shangshu Mansion Complex in Taining

The Shangshu Mansion Complex is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Shangshu Mansion Complex in Taining is located on Futang Lane, Shengli Second Street, in the urban area of Taining County. Together with the Shide Hall and the Li Clan Ancestral Hall, it forms the Shangshu Mansion Complex. Nearby are other representative old streets such as Shengli First Street, Shengli Second Street, and Hongjun Street.

The Shangshu Mansion Complex is an exquisite example of Ming Dynasty residential architecture, retaining architectural styles from the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods up to the present. It encapsulates the living scenes of ancient architecture; the surrounding area also features well-preserved old streets and traditional residences from the city’s past.

The Shangshu Mansion Complex is an outstanding example of Ming Dynasty residential architecture, commonly known as the "Wufu Hall." Located on Futang Lane, Shengli Second Street, in the urban area of Tanning County, it was the residence of Li Chunye, a Ming Dynasty Minister of War and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. It is the largest and best-preserved Ming Dynasty residential building complex in Fujian.

Built during the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty, the mansion faces east and consists of five main houses and eight auxiliary buildings, arranged in a row along a central corridor and accessed through five gates. In addition to halls, courtyards, and corridors, the complex includes over 120 rooms constructed with brick, stone, and wood. Each main house has three sections, and the corridors, courtyards, passageways, and courtyards are all paved with granite slabs. The halls have square brick flooring, while the courtyards feature carved stone pillars, flower stands, and stone vats. The front corridor is accessible via north and south gates; the northern entrance leads to a ceremonial hall and a reception hall. The corridor includes five gated archways, each inscribed with stone plaques bearing titles such as “Shangshu Mansion,” “Pillar of the Nation and Junior Guardian,” “Four Generations of First-Rank Officials,” “Walking Among the Stars,” “Bathed in the Light of the Sun and Moon,” and “Censor.” The beams, rafters, and columns of the plaques are adorned with exquisitely carved patterns. The entire residence is laid out with rigorous symmetry and grandeur. Adjacent to the east of the Shangshu Mansion is the Shide Hall, an architectural gem from the late Yuan and early Ming periods with a history of over 500 years. Its main structure consists of six contiguous buildings with gabled roofs and firewalls, facing west and built along a row with a simple, rustic style and bold use of materials. This hall fully preserves the Ming Dynasty residential layout known as “Three Halls and Nine Buildings,” featuring connected halls that are safe and comfortable, showcasing the architectural artistry of Ming Dynasty homes. The Shide Hall, together with the Shangshu Mansion and the Li Clan Ancestral Hall, forms the Shangshu Mansion Complex, covering a total area of 12,000 square meters. The complex includes various functional structures such as ancient official residences, civilian homes, ancestral halls, reception halls, auxiliary buildings, and large courtyards, recreating parts of ancient daily life. It is one of the most typical and complete complexes of ancient residential architecture in southern China. Shengli Second Street, where the Shangshu Mansion is located, is a preserved ancient street in the city, home to a large cluster of Ming Dynasty residential buildings. Some residents here still use ancient wells dating back to the Ming Dynasty, with well rings inscribed with reign marks such as “Longqing” and “Wanli.”

Next to the ticket office of the Shangshu Mansion is the Li Clan Ancestral Hall, which not only features ancient architecture but also offers performances of Taining’s unique Meilin Opera, providing an immersive experience of the area’s distinctive cultural atmosphere. It has now been converted into a performance venue and serves as the home of the Taining County Meilin Opera Troupe. When visitors are present, the troupe performs Meilin Opera segments up to eight times a day.

Tickets / Opening Hours

Ticket price: 30 RMB; Guided tour fee: 4 RMB (this is definitely worth it)

Meilin Opera performance times: Morning: 9:30 AM; Afternoon: 4:00 PM; Evening: 7:00 PM (first show), 8:00 PM (second show). Performances can also be scheduled at other times and with customized repertoires upon reservation.

Sanming City, Fujian Province

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units