The Sanjia Ancient Village Cluster

The Sanjia Ancient Village Cluster

The Sanjia Ancient Village Cluster is located about four kilometers southwest of Lantian District in Lianyuan City, bordering Xinshao County and Lengshuijiang City. It is traversed by the Xiang-Qian Railway, National Highway 207, the Loulian Expressway, and the Louxing Highway. In February 2009, the Sanjia Ancient Village Cluster was designated as a provincial-level historical and cultural village. Among its sites, the Shiyetang Hall and the Hongqi Residential Compound were confirmed as provincial-level cultural heritage protection units in early 2011.

The ancient village of Sanjia gained its name during the Shaoxing era of Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty and is said to have a history of over 800 years. The area preserves more than a hundred courtyards with blue bricks and tiles dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. The oldest of these date back over 400 years, and more than 50 sites, including the Shiyetang Hall, Yushichu Residence, Yide Manor, and the Liang Family Ancestral Hall, remain relatively well-preserved. Additionally, there are two important modern historical sites: the wartime trenches at Wuyuezhai from the Anti-Japanese War and the Hongqi Residential Compound from the Great Leap Forward period, both of which hold significant historical value. The area was also one of the most active regions for underground Communist Party branches during the Great Revolution, Agrarian Revolutionary War, and Anti-Japanese War, with six revolutionary sites still in existence. During the war, eight middle schools from the provincial capital of Changsha were relocated here, briefly making it a hub of culture and learning. The architecture of the Sanjia Ancient Village Cluster is rich in humanistic character and unique charm, integrating multiple cultural elements such as architecture, calligraphy, couplets, carving, and folklore. The well-preserved ancient buildings are imbued with deep historical and cultural significance, complemented by the scenic beauty of the He Ye Reservoir and the distinctive culinary culture of Jinzhu. The area also enjoys excellent transportation access.

Provincial Cultural Heritage Site — Hongqi Residential Compound

In 1958, the Hongqi Commune of Lianyuan County demolished over 300 main rooms and more than 40 hall rooms to construct collective dormitories and public canteens, completing the project by the end of the following year. The complex covers a built-up area of 4,500 square meters. It consists of six parallel single-story buildings, each with 12 corridor pillars, 24 rooms, and a symmetrical layout of 20 equally sized rooms on either side, plus 4 larger rooms serving as offices and meeting rooms. A straight central corridor runs through the entire compound. The residential compound has a total of 144 rooms, all uniformly structured.

Shiyetang Hall

Constructed during the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong era, it was primarily built under the direction of Liang Zhida, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations. The main structure includes six main halls, six courtyards, and nearly 200 various-sized rooms, covering an area of 8,600 square meters. Many buildings within the courtyard are interconnected via eaves corridors and winding passageways. The entire building is made of brick and wood, with wooden walls in front of the main hall doors and connecting doors inside the halls all carved with floral patterns and figurative stories. Particularly noteworthy are the large wooden carved curtains in the main hall, the stone carvings at the bottom of the courtyards, the grey-plastered brick walls, and the exquisitely carved ancient beds of the residents.

The owner of the estate, Liang Luozhuang (Liang Zhida), passed the imperial examinations in the same year as Zeng Guofan and maintained a close relationship with him. Zeng mentioned him multiple times in his family letters and composed a eulogy for him after his death: “Someone carried the mountain away at midnight; where did the dragon ride in with the rain?”

His son, Liang Hailing (Liang Xuezhao), was a military leader of the Xiang Army, a scholar in the Dingwei year of the Daoguang era, and was awarded the honorary title of Second Rank and the official position of Zizheng Daifu. He shared a sworn brotherhood and familial ties with Liu Yuezhao, the Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou.

His grandson, Liang Xijie, graduated from Tsinghua University and later studied in Japan. He was a schoolmate of former Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka. He once served in the Office of the Central Military Commission of the Nanjing National Government and taught at the National Teachers College in Lantian during the Anti-Japanese War, working alongside colleagues such as Liao Shicheng, Qian Zhongshu, and Pi Minju. After the liberation, he became the president of Central China Normal University and vice chairman of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

The Anti-Japanese Trenches

In August 1944, in order to protect the nation and home, patriotic Kuomintang general Liang Zhi Liu led the 15th Division to be stationed in Lantian. He ordered a regiment to be stationed in Sanjia. To resist the Japanese invasion and strike the enemy, the regiment commander had the second battalion spend half a month fortifying defenses in Yuping Peak, Sanjia, digging over 1,400 meters of trenches to defend Lantian and Sanjia.

He Ye Reservoir

Home to scenic spots such as Shuanghong Yingcai (Double Rainbows in Brilliant Colors) and Tan Shui Qingbo (Sunny Ripple on Sandy Beach) among the Eight Scenic Spots of Sanjia, this area features year-round green waters and mountains and pleasant scenery. It is an excellent destination for urbanites to engage in tourism, leisure, boating, and fishing.

The North Pagoda

In the 18th year of the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, Liang Qingzhang, Liang Zhaorui, and others constructed the Wen Tower (commonly known as the North Pagoda). The original stone base of the pagoda was 1.8 meters high, with a three-tiered blue-brick hexagonal tower built on top. It was destroyed in 1971. In 2007, it was rebuilt to its original appearance. Steps were added, doors and windows installed, a staircase erected, a precious top mounted, and copper bells hung from the eaves corners, making it a highly desirable site.

Yushi Chu

Built in the early years of the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty, its builder was Liang Yuelin. His eldest son, Liang Shoushan, held the official rank of Fourth Rank and served as the head of the military recruitment efforts for Zeng Guofan. His grandson, Liang Yaotian, once served as the principal of Zuoxin School and chairman of Dade School. The name of the residence was inscribed by Huang Zi Yuan, a jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and calligrapher of the Tongzhi era's sixth place (Bangyan) ranking, who was also a Hanlin Academician and renowned calligrapher.

Busanzhuang

The entrance features an ancient bridge built in the 6th year of the Kangxi era, which is now 351 years old and still completely intact. The owner, Liang Zhuoxuan, was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Daoguang era and served as the Tongzhi official in Northern Anhui. In the 6th year of the Tongzhi era, he expanded his father’s house, forming the main part of the current Busanzhuang, and invited Huang Zi Yuan, a fellow townsman and successful candidate in the imperial examinations (later ranked Bangyan) and famed calligrapher from Anhua, to inscribe the name of the estate and the couplet on its gate: “Busanzhuang — three steps to two bridges, one gate to ten thousand books.”

Minshen Hall

Built during the Qing Dynasty, it housed three famous anti-Japanese military leaders from the Republic of China, and the Changsha Zhounan Girls' School once operated the Yuying Girls' School here. Zeng Guofan also stationed here to recruit soldiers for the Xiang Army.

Zhusong Garden

Built during the Qing Dynasty, it featured the most labor-intensive construction, the largest hall, and the longest courtyard space.

Liang Family Ancestral Hall

Constructed during the Qing Dynasty, it features grand architectural scale, an imposing and elegant stage, and exquisite craftsmanship.

Former Residence of Martyr Chen Haiquan, Captain of the Chinese Expeditionary Force

Chen Haiquan, also known as Chen Jianqiu, was born in 1906 in Caixi, Sanjia. After graduating from Baoling County Middle School in 1927, he enrolled in the sixth phase of the Army Engineering Department at the Whampoa Military Academy in Guangzhou. In 1930, he was assigned as a company commander in the Fourth Company of the Engineering Battalion of the 19th Regiment of the National Revolutionary Army, temporarily acting as battalion commander. He successively served as deputy regimental commander, training class director, and deputy regimental commander of the 86th Regiment of the newly formed 29th Division. In early March 1942, when the Japanese captured Rangoon, the Nationalist Government deployed the Chinese Expeditionary Force to Myanmar to fight the Japanese. On April 27, Chen Haiquan, then a colonel and commander of the 87th Regiment of the 29th Division, was ordered to enter Myanmar and died in battle on May 2 at the age of 37.