The Lai Fang Architectural Complex

The Lai Fang Architectural Complex

The Lai Fang Architectural Complex is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Fujian Province.

The Lai Fang Architectural Complex is located in Laiwu Village and Lai’an Village, Laifang Township, Qingliu County, and dates back to the Qing Dynasty.

Introduction: The Lai Fang Architectural Complex consists of seven groups of structures: the Caiyingeng Residence, Hanlin Mansion, Tangdi Jingxiu Residence, Laiqing Residence, Youxu Residence, Yingxun Residence, and the Lai Family Ancestral Hall. The Caiyingeng Residence was built in the 18th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1892), facing west and situated eastward. It is composed of a brick-carved gatehouse, lower hall, upper hall, side wing rooms, and a left wing extension, covering an area of 449 square meters. The gatehouse is made of brick, featuring an eight-character, four-pillar, three-bay, hip-and-gable roof with three stories. The upper hall is three bays wide, five pillars deep, with a post-and-lintel style beam frame and a flush gable roof. The Hanlin Mansion was built during the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1851–1862). Facing west and situated eastward, it includes a front courtyard, lower hall, middle hall, upper hall, side wing rooms, and left and right wing extensions. The upper hall is three bays wide, five pillars deep, with a post-and-lintel beam frame and a flush gable roof. The Tangdi Jingxiu Residence faces west and is situated eastward, consisting of an outer gatehouse, gate tower (lower hall), middle hall, upper hall, rear hall, side wing rooms, and left and right wing extensions, covering an area of 1,109 square meters. The gate tower is built of brick, with an eight-character, four-pillar, three-bay, hip-and-gable roof with three stories. The plaque above the gate is inscribed with “Tangdi Jingxiu” (Flowers of the Pear Tree Competing in Beauty) in ink. Well-preserved colorful paintings beneath the eaves depict scenes of fishing, woodcutting, farming, and studying. The middle hall is three bays wide, five pillars plus front porch deep, featuring a combination of raised-beam and post-and-lintel beam frames and a flush gable roof. The Laiqing Residence faces east and is situated westward, comprising a gate tower, main hall, side wing rooms, and left and right wing extensions, covering an area of 437 square meters. The gate tower features brick carvings, with an eight-character, four-pillar, three-bay, hip-and-gable roof with three stories. The main hall is three bays wide, five pillars plus front porch deep, with a combination of raised-beam and post-and-lintel beam frames and a flush gable roof. The Youxu Residence faces west and is situated eastward, consisting of an outer gate tower, lower hall, upper hall, rear enclosed building, side wing rooms, and left and right wing extensions, covering an area of 631 square meters. The gate tower is built of brick with carvings, featuring an eight-character, four-pillar, three-bay, hip-and-gable roof with three stories. The upper hall is three bays wide, five pillars deep, with a post-and-lintel beam frame and a flush gable roof. The Yingxun Residence faces west and is situated eastward, composed of a gate tower, front courtyard, lower hall, upper hall, side wing rooms, two left-wing row houses, and three right-wing row houses, covering an area of 886 square meters. The upper hall is five bays wide, five pillars deep, with a combination of raised-beam and post-and-lintel beam frames and a flush gable roof. The Lai Family Ancestral Hall was built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1521–1566), facing east and situated westward. It includes a main gate, gate hall, side-wing corridor, and main hall, covering an area of 299 square meters. The main hall is three bays wide, five pillars deep, with a combination of raised-beam and post-and-lintel beam frames and a flush gable roof.

In 2013, the Lai Fang Architectural Complex was announced as part of the eighth batch of provincial-level cultural heritage sites by the Fujian Provincial People’s Government.

Protected area: An additional 10-meter buffer zone extends outward from the perimeter of the architectural complex.

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Sites in Fujian Province