Gaoyi Residential Complex

Gaoyi Residential Complex

Gaoyi Residential Complex is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Hunan Province.

Gaoyi Residential Complex

Dating from the Ming to Qing dynasties. Located on the southern foothills of the Xuefeng Mountain Range, on a terrace west of the Wushui River, about 48 kilometers northeast of Huitong County, Hunan Province. The village is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces water on one side, resembling a high-backed armchair — hence its name.

The village preserves 104 inscribed buildings constructed between the 13th year of the Hongwu reign in the Ming Dynasty (1380) and the 7th year of the Guangxu reign in the Qing Dynasty (1881), with a total floor area of 19,416 square meters. These ancient residential buildings form a flower-like layout centered around the “Wutong Temple,” divided into five natural villages. The western part, commonly known as “Old Residential Street,” mainly features early Ming architecture. The northern part, called “Kanjiao,” mainly consists of late Ming buildings. The eastern section, known as “Dawuji,” primarily includes early Qing structures. The southern area, referred to as “Tianduan” and “Shangxiazhai,” mainly comprises mid-to-late Qing buildings.

The architectural style of these residences features enclosed courtyards surrounded by four brick firewalls, with wooden, post-and-lintel style two-story buildings inside. The firewalls on both sides of the courtyards often have horse-head-shaped gables, ranging from double to quadruple tiers, many adorned with painted patterns. The buildings’ doors and windows are intricately carved, and many courtyards feature plaques hanging in the main halls, murals painted on screen walls, and interiors furnished with Ming and Qing dynasty pieces.

Public buildings in the village include ancestral halls, study halls, pavilions, earth god temples, ponds, and wells. Village lanes are paved with bluestone slabs.

The Gaoyi Residential Complex preserves a complete and ancient cultural and natural landscape across various aspects such as economic life, cultural education, religious beliefs, and leisure activities, which is rare within the province.

On May 19, 2002, it was designated as a Provincial Cultural Heritage Site by the People’s Government of Hunan Province, with the designation number 82-41.

Source: Overview of Cultural Relics in Hunan