The Mingshi Mansion (Flower Gate Tower)

The Mingshi Mansion (Flower Gate Tower)

The Mingshi Mansion (Flower Gate Tower)

The Mingshi Mansion (Flower Gate Tower) is situated slightly to the right in Huzhou Village. It is 8.8 meters long from east to west, 5.6 meters high, and has walls 0.6 meters thick. Originally constructed in the Yuanyou Year of the Bingshen era during the Northern Song Dynasty (1085), it was first built as a wooden structure. In the second year of the Huangqing era of the Yuan Dynasty (1313), it underwent renovation and expansion. It was then renovated for the second time in the nineteenth year of the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1483), when it was rebuilt using brick. It features a design of four pillars, three bays, and three gates, with a double-layered roof arranged in a pinwheel pattern. The layers are supported by interlocking notched corners, all intricately crafted in brick relief. The lintel is inscribed with the characters “Mingshi Shi Di” (Mansion of Literary Renown).

Huzhou Village: In 2012, Huzhou Village in Xiajiang County was designated as one of Jiangxi Province’s Millennium Ancient Villages. In early 2013, it was listed among Jiangxi Province’s 156 key cultural heritage protection sites. Currently, efforts are underway to develop it into a national-level Millennium Ancient Village, with aspirations of becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site. The village is not only ancient but also boasts a serene and picturesque environment: surrounded by verdant mountains and clear waters, it is encircled on all sides by peaks and ridges, presenting a majestic and imposing landscape. In front of the village, a small bridge spans flowing streams and the Yi River tributary, with blue skies mirrored in crystal-clear water where small fish and shrimp play carefree. In summer, it serves as a natural swimming pool for villagers and a cool playground for children. The village also features ancient ancestral halls, temples, and more... More details about Huzhou Village ++