Taigong Octagonal Enclosure

Taigong Octagonal Enclosure

The Taigong Octagonal Enclosure consists of eight watchtower-style fortified residences, situated in Xinwuduan, Taigong Village, Lishi Town, Dingnan County. Constructed in 1858 by Wan Zuo and his son from the Zheng family, it faces west and measures 60 meters in width and 31.7 meters in depth, with a total area of 1,902 square meters. The layout is rectangular and features a mixed structure of brick and wood, stone and wood, as well as earth and wood. This square-shaped enclosure integrates the functions of home, fortress, ancestral hall, and courtyard. Its exterior is characterized by tall walls made of a composite of brick and earth. Due to the limitations imposed by the mountain at the back and the farmland in front, the enclosure could only expand to the left and right. As a result, four watchtowers were built on the main (front) façade and another four on the rear façade—each three stories high, with the second-floor eaves supported by corbelled brickwork and a hip-and-gable roof with four sloping sides. The entire compound has only one main gate at the front, flanked by two smaller side gates on each side, highlighting its strong defensive features. Along the central axis of the enclosure are three halls arranged vertically—the upper, middle, and lower halls. The upper hall serves as a place for ancestor worship and includes six wooden pillars supporting the structure, each resting on drum-shaped stone bases and topped with beams, along with several windows adorned with carved auspicious patterns. Flanking the hall are 136 residential rooms, accommodating over 220 clan members.

Location: Taigong Village, Lishi Town, Dingnan County

Protected Area: Extending 16 meters westward from the main gate (west side) of the Taigong Octagonal Enclosure to the village road, 0.5 meters eastward from the back wall (east side), 0.5 meters southward from the left wall (south side), and 0.5 meters northward from the right wall (north side); Total Area: 2,828.6 square meters.

Construction Control Zone: The buffer zone extends uniformly in all directions as per the protected area boundaries; Maximum Construction Height: 8 meters; Total Area of Construction Control Zone: 2,828.6 square meters.

Lishi Town: Located in the county seat of Dingnan, Lishi Town is the town where the county government is based. It covers an area of 271 square kilometers, with a population of 72,800 (including 31,000 non-agricultural residents). The town administers 31 administrative villages and 6 neighborhood committees, making it the largest town in the county. It boasts strong economic development, comprehensive infrastructure, well-rounded social services, abundant labor resources, a pleasant climate, and a safe and harmonious society.

In 2005, the town achieved a gross domestic product of 207 million yuan, a 12% increase from 2004, with industrial output valued at 104 million yuan, up 25% year-on-year, and agriculture... More details about Lishi Town ++