Former Residence of the General

Former Residence of the General

The Former Residence of the General is a cultural tourism attraction.

On the north side of Dongguan Road, in front of a grand ancient residence, a pair of stone lions stands guard majestically. The protruding wooden rafters above the eaves remain sturdy, and the lion carvings on the ends of the rafters, made from grey bricks, are vividly lifelike. Wu Tongting, Director of the Song Ancient City Development Office and former Deputy Party Secretary and Chairman of the People’s Congress of Tiangzhang Town, who accompanied us, said that this is the “Former Residence of General Xu.”

General Xu, named Xu Guobi, served as the deputy commander of Tongzhou during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. Hence, his residence is called the “Former Residence of the General.”

The “Former Residence of the General” was built along the natural terrain, lower in the south and higher in the north, divided into three levels with seven courtyards. Entering from the south gate and walking northward, you pass through a series of small quadrangle courtyards. Between each courtyard, faintly visible connecting doorframes can still be seen, creating a “winding path leading to seclusion.” There are four rows of such courtyards, with narrow stone paths between the rows. Gently touching the stone walls on both sides—cool and rough—you almost hear the footsteps of ancestors treading on the stone slabs as you walk through.

In the northernmost courtyard, at the highest elevation, climb onto the roof and you’ll be instantly captivated by the view before you. Looking south, the entire “Former Residence of the General” unfolds before your eyes. The architectural layout is meticulous, ingeniously conceived, with a clear central axis and symmetrical design on both sides. The grey-tiled roofs are arranged in a staggered fashion, while the gracefully arched ridges form elegant curves. Wu Tongting said the “Former Residence of the General” was first built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, expanded in the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, covering an area of 18 mu with 242 rooms. It is the largest existing ancient residence in Tiangzhang Town.

Looking south beyond the “Former Residence of the General,” there is another sizable expanse of grey-tiled ancient houses, connected to the “Former Residence of the General,” forming an impressive sight. That is another ancient residential complex—the “Lu Family Courtyard.”

On the west side of South Street in the town, sits the best-preserved “Wang Family Courtyard” in the ancient city. This is a courtyard-style architectural complex featuring Ming and Qing dynasty styles, consisting of over ten courtyards. Each courtyard is interconnected via gates and passages, resembling an architectural maze. Walking past the grand central courtyard, you can admire the screen-style straight-pillar and open-eave gates, as well as the blue-brick and green-tile houses—simple yet magnificent.