Chen Yuankai’s Former Residence in Daguang Lane

Chen Yuankai’s Former Residence in Daguang Lane

Chen Yuankai’s Former Residence in Daguang Lane

Located next to the former residence of He Zhendai at No. 23 (old No. 18), Wenru Lane, Daguang Lane, Sanfang Community, Nanjie Subdistrict, Gulou District, the residence was built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty and renovated during the Guangxu reign and the Republican era. It faces north and is enclosed by walls on all sides. The main structure has two courtyards: the first courtyard includes a hall that is three bays wide and two bays deep, featuring a post-and-lintel wooden frame and a double-sloped roof; the second courtyard is a three-bay reverse-facing row house. To the east, there is a flower hall and garden, which have been converted into three small rooms. This was the ancestral home of Chen Yinying (daughter of Yuankai), wife of Lin Juemin. In 1992, it was designated for protection by the municipal government.

Chen Yuankai’s Former Residence is situated at the old No. 18 / new No. 23, Daguang Lane, Wenru Lane, adjacent to the former residences of Chen Yan and He Zhendai. The residence is surrounded by lush flowers and plants. Chen once wrote: “My home lies in the southern lanes of the city, where trees and blossoms cast a pleasant shade.” Originally built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty and renovated during the Guangxu reign and the Republican era, it has been preserved to this day.

The main structure of the residence faces north, covering a land area of 1,500 square meters with a built-up area of 1,344 square meters. It consists of two courtyards: the front courtyard hall is three bays wide and five pillars deep, with a double-sloped roof and a post-and-lintel wooden frame. The rear courtyard is a three-bay reverse-facing row house. To the east is a flower hall featuring an artificial hill and fishpond, while to the west it neighbors the “Dao South Shrine” of Yang Guishan, a Neo-Confucian scholar of the Song Dynasty. As one of the well-preserved residences of notable figures within the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys area, it was designated for protection by the Fuzhou Municipal People's Government in 1992.

Sanfang Community: “Sanfang Community” boasts a long history. Since the Tang Dynasty, literati, officials, and merchants have largely settled here. From the late Tang Dynasty to the Republican era, national heroes, revolutionary pioneers, patriotic generals, and literary masters were born and raised here. Historic residences such as the Ouyang Flower Hall, Water Pavilion Theater Stage, former residences of Chen Chengqiu, Chen Jiliang, Huang Ren, Guanglu Music Platform, and Liu Family Compound are located within Sanfang Community. With four national cultural relics and two provincial cultural relics, it is hailed as a “Museum of Ming and Qing Architecture,” embodying the essence of cultural heritage. The upcoming “Three Lanes and Seven Alleys” protection and restoration project will surely breathe new life into these millennia-old historic sites... More details about Sanfang Community++