Ji Xiaolan Cultural Park

Ji Xiaolan Cultural Park

Ji Xiaolan Cultural Park

Located in Cui'erzhuang, Cang County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, the hometown of Ji Xiaolan.

Ji Xiaolan was a literary giant of his time in China. His given name was Yun, courtesy name Xiaolan, also known as Chunfan, with the late sobriquet Shiyun and Taoist name Guanyi Daoren. He was born on June 15, 1724, during the second year of the Yongzheng reign in the Qing Dynasty, and passed away in February 1805 during the tenth year of the Jiaqing reign. He lived through the Yongzheng, Qianlong, and Jiaqing reigns, and died at the age of 82. Ji Xiaolan was a remarkable figure of the Qing Dynasty in China, with numerous works to his name. He became famous for overseeing the compilation of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries (Siku Quanshu) and authored Notes of the Thatched Abode of Close Observations (Yuewei Caotang Biji). The Ji Xiaolan Cultural Park covers an area of over 70 acres and features classical-style buildings such as the Officialdom Book Collection Hall, Yuewei Caotang, Luanru HuaiGu Room, Pavilion of Ninety-Nine Inkstones, and Wen Yi Pavilion. The park documents Ji Xiaolan’s life and writings through artifacts and paintings, and also houses a copy of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries published by the Commercial Press.

Ji Xiaolan Cultural Park is a garden-style classical complex with expansive landscaped grounds, pavilions, water features, and trees, surrounded by a long red wall, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere. The scenic area spans over 50,000 square meters. It is well known that Ji Xiaolan was particularly fond of smoking a dry tobacco pipe, earning him the nickname "Big Tobacco Pipe Ji." Therefore, the park specially designed a giant tobacco pipe made of cast iron, measuring 8.2 meters in length and weighing 21 tons, recognized as a world record. The Ji Xiaolan Cultural Park includes classical-style buildings such as the Officialdom Book Collection Hall, Yuewei Caotang, Luanru HuaiGu Room, Pavilion of Ninety-Nine Inkstones, and Wen Yi Pavilion. These structures recreate Ji Xiaolan’s life and literary works through artifacts and paintings. Additionally, the Inkstone Pavilion and Wen Yi Pavilion house a collection of a hundred inkstones and a copy of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries published by the Commercial Press, considered the treasured highlights of the park.

Introduction to the Main Scenic Areas in Ji Xiaolan Cultural Park

1. The Central Scenic Area features Three Classical Halls

A. The Main Hall is called “Legacy of the Siku Quanshu,” designed in the style of Ming and Qing imperial palaces. The hall’s beam is adorned with two blue-background golden plaques, and the front pillars hold couplets. The plaques were inscribed respectively by the late renowned scholar and cultural relics appraiser Shi Shuqing, titled “Legacy of the Siku Quanshu,” and by Luo Zhewen, a famous ancient architecture expert (disciple of the famed architect Liang Sicheng), titled “Wen Yi Pavilion.” The couplets are written in the calligraphy style of Qing Dynasty’s Weng Fanggang. Inside, there is a seated statue of Ji Xiaolan, and a facsimile of the Wenjin Pavilion edition of the Siku Quanshu, compiled by Ji Xiaolan, which represents the most glorious and significant achievement of his life. The hall also displays an exquisite gold-leaf painting titled “The Book-Editing Scene,” depicting the environment in which Ji Xiaolan oversaw the compilation of the Siku Quanshu. Portraits of early Qing emperors and key scholars involved in the book project are hung to reflect the cultural grandeur of the Qianlong era. The collection of the Siku Quanshu is open to scholars for study and research.

B. The East Hall is called “Hall of Revering Ancestors.” It houses a bust of Ji Xiaolan, an incense table, fragments of the Ji family steles, and the family genealogy. The walls display stone-engraved portraits of Ji ancestors, providing a space for Ji family descendants to pay respects and hold memorial ceremonies.

C. The West Hall is called “Hall of Honoring Virtuous Scholars.” It features a cultural sand table showcasing historical relics, ancient sites, and hometowns of notable figures from Cangzhou. The walls display portraits of historical figures (both civil and military) from various dynasties in Cangzhou, presenting a comprehensive view of Cangzhou’s magnificent history and the achievements of its celebrated personalities.

2. Yuewei Caotang. This is a classical-style quadrangle courtyard building, overall modeled after the layout of Ji Xiaolan’s Beijing residence.

A. Yuewei Caotang, the main north room. The beam above the door is adorned with a replicated plaque titled “Yuewei Caotang,” inscribed by the renowned Qing Dynasty scholar and calligrapher Gui Fu. There are couplets on the pillars in front of the door. Inside, the living utensils and the Four Treasures of the Study (writing brushes, ink sticks, ink slabs, and paper) used by Ji Xiaolan are displayed.

B. The Officialdom Book Collection Hall, the main south room. It has plaques and couplets, and uses pictorial displays to illustrate Ji Xiaolan’s life story. There is also a counter selling souvenirs.

C. The Luanru HuaiGu Room, the main west room. It displays various editions of the Notes of the Thatched Abode of Close Observations. The walls feature illustrations depicting stories from the book.

D. The Pavilion of Ninety-Nine Inkstones, the main east room. It mainly exhibits replicas of Ji Xiaolan’s inkstone collections and rubbings of inkstone inscriptions.

3. Pavilions and Towers

A. “Chunfan Lake,” named after Ji Xiaolan’s courtesy name “Chunfan,” is built around a pond. In the lake, there is a central pavilion called “Observation of Chess Pavilion,” along with winding railings, waterside pavilions, and an arched bridge. On the west bank, there is a square pavilion called “Yellow Millet Pavilion,” and to the north is a lotus pond with rockeries.

B. The Fun Couplets Corridor. Located between the Legacy of the Siku Quanshu and Yuewei Caotang, this corridor has four-cornered scenic pavilions at both ends. The pillars or beams of the corridor (or pavilions) feature couplets or plaques inscribed with Ji Xiaolan’s clever poetic responses.

In addition, several rest and sightseeing spots have been designed to enhance visitor enjoyment, including fun features like the Giant Tobacco Pipe and the Money Hole. There are also souvenir shops to help visitors commemorate their cultural experience.

4. Landscaping of the Cultural Park

Following the principles of being green all year round and blooming three seasons of the year, the landscaping is designed based on the local soil and climate conditions, incorporating flowers and plants mentioned in Ji Xiaolan’s works. The garden uses plants such as jujube trees, wisteria, bamboo groves, crabapple trees, ancient locust trees, persimmon trees, roses, and weeping willows according to the characteristics of each scenic spot, creating a vibrant, elegant, refined, and warm garden atmosphere. Visitors can fully enjoy a refreshing and tranquil experience in this classic Chinese garden setting.

Ji Xiaolan (1724–1805), given name Yun, courtesy name Xiaolan, also known as Chunfan, with the late sobriquet Shiyun and Taoist name Guanyi Daoren. He was from Cui'erzhuang Town, Cang County, Hebei Province. Born in June 1724 during the second year of the Yongzheng reign in the Qing Dynasty, he passed away in February 1805 during the tenth year of the Jiaqing reign. He lived through the Yongzheng, Qianlong, and Jiaqing reigns, and died at the age of 82. Because he was “quick-witted, studious, and skilled in writing; entrusted with governance, he excelled in all tasks” (as inscribed on the imperial stele granted by Emperor Jiaqing), he was posthumously honored with the title “Wenda” (literally “Cultured and Enlightened”), and was respectfully called “Wenda Gong” by his fellow villagers. Representative works: General Catalogue of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries, Notes of the Thatched Abode of Close Observations.

Introduction:

The Ji Family’s Migration to Xian... More detailed information about Ji Xiaolan++

Cui’erzhuang Town: Located 35 kilometers west of Cangzhou City, Cui’erzhuang Town governs 48 administrative villages, covering an area of 115 square kilometers, with 113,000 mu of cultivated land and a population of 71,000. In 2017, the town achieved fiscal revenue of 26.6 million yuan, with a total industrial output value of 3.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.9%. The town’s Party committee and government are striving to accelerate Cui’erzhuang’s economic development, aiming to build it into a small commercial town with preliminary scale integrating jujube planting and processing, market trade, and tourism.

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