Former Residence of Liu Qingxia

Former Residence of Liu Qingxia

The Former Residence of Liu Qingxia is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a patriotic education base.

The Former Residence of Liu Qingxia is preserved in honor of Ms. Liu Qingxia, a renowned female educator, social activist, and bourgeois democratic revolutionary in modern China. Originally part of the estate of "Liu Ban Xian" (literally "Liu Half the County"), a major local landlord in Weishi County, the residence is located right in the center of the county town, spanning both east–west streets as the well-known "Shi Gu Tang" (Learning from Antiquity Hall) compound. In the past, the compound was very majestic, featuring three main gates adorned with carved beasts, platforms extending out from the gate fronts, and courtyards in front of the platforms used for parking carriages and tethering horses. The entire Shi Gu Tang complex had about 300 rooms and covered approximately 19 mu (about 1.27 hectares), representing the most concentrated and finest architectural ensemble within the "Liu Ban Xian" family.

The Liu family's estate was spread roughly between East Street and West Street in the county town, as well as between West Street and Hou Xin Street. On the east side of East Street and Xinmin Street were the family’s pawnshops, banks, and merchant outlets. To the south of Renmin Road lay their South Garden, and inside the North Gate was their North Garden. In short, the Liu family’s real estate occupied half the county town, which is why they were historically known as "Liu Ban Xian" (Liu Half the County).

The currently preserved "Former Residence of Liu Qingxia" is divided into eastern and western sections, situated on both sides of West Street. The eastern courtyard has 36 rooms, arranged across inner and outer compounds. The inner hall building has a width of five bays, a depth of 1.8 zhang (approximately 5.9 meters), and a total height of 3.7 zhang (approximately 12.3 meters). The side buildings to the east and west are slightly lower, also with five bays in width and a depth of 1.5 zhang (approximately 5 meters). The central courtyard features water-milled brick verandas. The eaves are decorated with carved brick patterns, the roof is covered with grey tiles and adorned with upturned animal ornaments along the ridgeline, and the lower level is surrounded by wooden-pillared verandas. Large bright windows are set beneath the verandas, while the interior is partitioned with carved wooden screens. A staircase inside leads to the upper floor. In the past, the courtyard was adorned with strange rocks and exotic flowers, with peonies, osmanthus, lilacs, and wintersweet filling the air with fragrance throughout the seasons. Currently, a wintersweet tree planted personally by Ms. Liu Qingxia still remains.

The western courtyard is divided into three parts: the southern annex includes three two-story buildings—north, south, and west—with 10 rooms each, totaling 30 rooms. The east side features a corridor and gate, with three rooms on each side of the gate, totaling six rooms. The northern annex contains a two-story north building with 16 rooms, a five-room west wing, and an east reception hall that is three zhang deep and five bays wide. The western annex includes a west building with 10 rooms, and north and south buildings, each with six rooms, totaling 12 rooms. There is also a three-zhang square reception hall and one side room to the south of the annex. The entire western courtyard has 88 rooms, built in the same architectural style as the eastern courtyard.

The architectural style of the Former Residence of Liu Qingxia represents a typical example of traditional northern Chinese quadrangle dwellings from the late Qing Dynasty, as well as a fine model during China’s architectural transformation period. It holds significant historical and artistic value. In June 2006, it was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council.

Travel Tips:

Admission: Free

Opening Hours: 9:00–21:00

Address: Tujie Section, Jiefang Road, 4.9 km east of Kaifeng City, Henan Province

Shi Gu Tang in the center of Weishi County town

Postal Code: 475500

Liu Qingxia (1877–1923), female, was born in Jiangcun, Anyang, Henan Province. Her maiden surname was Ma. She took the name Liu Qingxia after marrying Liu Yaode (courtesy name Dexiong), a wealthy landlord in Weishi County. She was born into a prominent feudal bureaucratic family. Her father, Ma Piyao (courtesy name Yushan), passed the imperial examination in 1862 (the first year of the Tongzhi reign) and initially served in the Hanlin Academy before holding positions such as Shanxi Censorate Commissioner, Provincial Administration Commissioner, and Governor of Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Guangdong provinces, eventually becoming the acting Viceroy of Liangguang. Liu Qingxia had four brothers: Ma Jisen (eldest), Ma Jizhang (second), Ma Jimei (third), and Ma Jishu (fourth), but she maintained limited contact with her birth family throughout her life... More details about Liu Qingxia++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units