The Wang Family Manor in Yaoshan

The Wang Family Manor in Yaoshan

The Wang Family Manor in Yaoshan is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Wang Family Manor is located in Nanyaoshan Village, Yaoshan Town, Shunping County, about 25 kilometers due west of Baoding City. The manor was first built in the early years of the Shunzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty by the Wang family ancestor Wang Xigun and has a history of over 300 years. It is the largest and most well-preserved grand residence of a wealthy landlord and merchant from the Qing Dynasty still existing in North China, and it is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The manor covers an area of 279 mu, originally consisting of more than 50 residential courtyards and over 500 rooms; currently, 65 mu remain, with 163 rooms. The main buildings of the manor are laid out in a square formation, aligned north-south along a straight line, with two rows of siheyuan (courtyard houses) arranged east-west. These siheyuan are interconnected front to back and side to side. The entire architectural complex is predominantly in gray tones, giving an impression of simplicity, dignity, and elegance. The architecture of the manor is distinct from both imperial palaces and ordinary residences, representing the finest of traditional residential architecture in northern China. It serves not only as a valuable physical resource for studying the folk customs of the Qing Dynasty but also as an excellent destination for tourism. In recent years, it has also become a popular filming location for movies and TV dramas, with scenes from films such as *The Early Storm* and *Decisive Engagement*, and TV series like *Hot Soil*, *Song of Youth*, and *Granary of Heaven* shot here.

In the first year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Wang family, led by Wang Xigun, entered the Shanhai Pass with the Qing forces. In the fourth year of Shunzhi, Wang Xigun was granted land southwest of Beijing in Baoding’s Yaoshan area, and through this land grant, he acquired large tracts of land in surrounding counties. Later, using these lands, Wang Xigun developed agriculture, collected substantial land rents, built the manor, established a soy sauce workshop, and set up merchant businesses.

Through the efforts of several generations of the Wang family, a total of 12 complete manor complexes were eventually built in Yaoshan, spanning from south to north, including the South Garden, Shangli Hall, and Zunyi Hall building groups. The currently restored and open South Garden section features a square layout, with buildings aligned north-south along a straight line, forming a large courtyard suitable for multiple generations living together. It includes two rows of siheyuan arranged east-west, comprising nine nested courtyards and over 100 rooms. The western section, “Renhe Hall,” with its four-courtyard layout, served as the residence of the original family head, Wang Xigun; the eastern section, “Menghe Hall,” with its three-courtyard layout, was the residence of Wang Xigun’s third son, Wang Pei.

The various courtyards within the siheyuan are interconnected front to back and side to side. The main courtyard of the four-courtyard complex has all nine gates aligned along a central longitudinal axis, while all gateways of the first courtyard are situated along a single horizontal axis. The layout, from south to north, consists of: merchant shops, main living quarters, yaofang (family shrine), and difang (storerooms); on either side are studies, kitchens, servants’ quarters, and guard rooms. Between the two sections lies a large central courtyard called the Ronghua Courtyard, used for hosting large family events and home to the opera stage. On either side of the central east-west “Locust Shade Path” within the courtyard stand towering ancient locust trees that shade the area. To the north of the path are two main gates and two side gates. Outside the main gate of “Renhe Hall” stands a screen wall, its base exquisitely carved from limestone into a sumeru pedestal design, flanked by a pair of tiger-pattern mounting stones. The main buildings of the manor are built upon near one-meter-high straight stone bases, varying from three to five steps in height. The courtyards feature square bricks on the ground, and the structures are topped with single-eave, flush-gable gray-tiled roofs and post-and-lintel wooden frames. The architectural color scheme is mainly gray, offering a rustic yet dignified feel. The brick, stone, and wood carvings are exquisitely classical, contributing to the stately and elegant ambiance—features that are rare in northern China.

In addition to admiring the grand residential architecture, visitors can also view various exhibitions inside, such as displays on the lifestyle and customs of wealthy households, cultural relics of Shunping, and marriage customs of Zhili. There are opportunities to enjoy tea, watch performances, and take part in costume photo sessions. Traditional folk activities such as riding in a flower sedan chair, holding wedding ceremonies, and enjoying theatrical performances can also be experienced, with opportunities for participation. The Wang Family Manor in Yaoshan, Baoding, is a classic example of ancient northern Chinese residential architecture. It adopts the architectural style of Beijing siheyuan while boldly innovating, reflecting a unique architectural character and serving as a grand showcase of northern Chinese residential architectural culture.

Scenic Area Address: Nanyaoshan Village, Yaoshan Town, Shunping County, Baoding City, Hebei Province

Transportation: Take a bus to Yaoshan Town from Baoding or Shunping County

Self-driving Route: The manor is located 27 kilometers west of Baoding City and 10 kilometers northeast of Shunping County. It can be directly accessed by driving along the Baofu Road from Baoding.

Admission Ticket

30 RMB per person; 20% discount for groups of 20 or more; free for active-duty military personnel and seniors; half price with student ID

Yaoshan Town: Located in the eastern part of Shunping County, Yaoshan Town is known as the eastern gateway of Shunping. The Baofu Road runs through the town, with mostly flatland villages to the south and semi-mountainous villages to the north. The town administers 33 administrative villages, covering a total area of 50.4 square kilometers, with 58,260 mu of arable land and a total population of 35,700. There are currently 14 primary and secondary schools, one senior high school, and three township health centers.

The town’s economy is primarily based on agricultural cultivation, with rapid development in high-efficiency agriculture. It has formed a grape and watermelon planting area centered around Wuhou in the east, and a greenhouse... More detailed information on Yaoshan Town++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units