Generals' Villas in Taiyi Village

Generals' Villas in Taiyi Village

Generals' Villas in Taiyi Village (including Tongxiang Guild Hall, Tongsong Villa, Wu Family Courtyard, Aimin Villa, Yuequan Villa, Wan’an, and Jingpu Qiushe)

The Taiyi Village scenic area is located at the foot of Taiyi Peak west of Hanpo Pass, beside the ancient hiking trail on the southern side of Mount Lu. Legend has it that the ancient Taoist master Taiyi Zhenren became immortal here. The area sits at an altitude of over 800 meters, surrounded by peaks. There are watchtowers and blockhouses in front of and behind the village, while stone paths crisscross the village, with pavilions tucked among the scenery. Over a dozen villas feature diverse styles yet harmonious colors, all with elegant names such as Wan’an, Sanliu Nest, and Ailu. Historical figures like Kang Youwei, Feng Yuxiang, and Chiang Ching-kuo once stayed here.

In 1927, seven retired Kuomintang generals from Guangdong, including Zeng Wangui, Liu Yigong, and Gu Cengbing, initiated the construction of villas here. Later, more than ten others followed suit. By the early 1930s, senior military officers such as Chiang Kai-shek, Cai Tingkai, Chen Cheng, Yan Xishan, Wu Qiwu, Yan Zhong, and Li Ruzhuo had built 18 villas in the area, collectively named Taiyi Village, also known as Generals’ Village. The village features watchtowers and blockhouses in front of and behind it, with stone paths crisscrossing and pavilions nestled among the scenery. Over a dozen villas showcase diverse styles yet harmonious colors, all with elegant names such as Wan’an, Ben She, Songzhuang, Sanliu Nest, and Ailu.

Historical figures like Kang Youwei, Feng Yuxiang, Hu Zongnan, Bai Chongxi, Li Siguang, and Chiang Ching-kuo once stayed here. The Taiyi Village villas were damaged by Japanese forces during the War of Resistance against Japan. Some of the generals who resided in Taiyi Village later became celebrated resistance heroes, while others joined the People’s Liberation Army.

In 1984, restoration and expansion of Taiyi Village began gradually. The village now includes amenities such as a conference hall, dance hall, martial arts field, swimming pool, Qiongchi Pond, Fengdao Garden, Taiyi Stone, and Mengzhong Stone. A road below connects it via Guanyin Bridge to Jiuxing Road, making it a popular destination for vacationing, conferences, and tourism.

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units