Julong Residence

Julong Residence

The Julong Residence is a cultural relic protection unit of Hunan Province.

The Julong Residence dates back to the Qing Dynasty. Located in Beixi Township, Guidong County, Hunan Province, it is one of the best-preserved residences in the province that embodies the architectural essence of the regions of Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, and Guangxi.

The Julong Residence derives its name from the mountain ridges that resemble a gathering of dragons. Its common name is Xitai Bei, and it was built during the Guangxu era (1875–1908) of the Qing Dynasty by Guo Tongchao, an inspection official of the Qingdao Subprefecture in Haikang County, Guangdong. Covering an area of 18 mu (approximately 1.2 hectares) with a construction area of 2,553 square meters, it faces northeast and is built in a hard mountain-style brick-and-wood structure. It features three courtyards, nine halls, eighteen wells, front and rear courtyards, and east and west main gates. There are 99 and a half rooms of various sizes. Entering through the east gate, you’ll see a wall couplet: “The spiritual energy of Beishan gathers here to inaugurate a noble house; the long-flowing stream of the creek nurtures refined culture.” This encapsulates the landscape and people of Beixi. Above the gate lintel is inscribed “Hongguang Cui.” The gate pillars feature couplets: “Red hues over the orchid steps nurture auspicious grass; gleaming light on the osmanthus pillars inspires the spirit.” In front of the main hall’s entrance, the wooden carvings of two dragons vying for a pearl on the projecting beams have been destroyed, but the lintel is inscribed in gold with the regular script “Julong Residence.” The double doors are painted with door gods, and the central hall features a courtyard with carved stories of “Liu Hai Chopping Firewood” above the eaves on both sides. The eave corners are adorned with floral and bird patterns, and the shrine enshrines ancestral tablets. The rear hall has side chambers on both sides.

The left side hall gate is inscribed with “Shengjin Valley.” The right side hall gate is inscribed with “Saiyu Chuan.” On both sides are side rooms, wing rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. Enter through the left lane gate to reach the owner’s living quarters, named “Ya’er You” (Elegant and Secluded), featuring a memorial archway-style partition wall with arched gates on both sides and a triple-eaved roof with upturned corners. From the rear hall, you can access the left and right flower halls. The right hall is called “Ju Yi Suo” (Residence of Simplicity), with side chambers on both sides, and the upper floor serves as a sewing room. The corridors on both sides are inscribed with “Prosperity Blooms, Renowned Scholars Rise” and “Noble Flowers Bloom, Renowned Names Emerge.” The lane gate is inscribed with phrases such as “Take Broad Steps” and “Reflect Thrice.” The upstairs of the right side hall served as a private school, with a statue of Confucius. The screen wall features a couplet bestowed by Empress Dowager Cixi: “The clear moon and open skies mirror this broad mind; the splendid blossoms and elegant diction shine from the lips.” Miscellaneous rooms on both sides were used as stables, cowsheds, pigsties, and toilets, with the upper floors serving as granaries.

The Julong Residence features painted caisson ceilings and intricately carved window lattices and partitions depicting various figures, animals, and floral patterns with lifelike forms and exquisite craftsmanship. Nearly a hundred couplets and poetic inscriptions showcase various calligraphic styles including running, cursive, and regular scripts. The pavilions and corridors here twist and turn, with ingenious designs and rational layouts, embodying the essence of residential architecture from Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, and Guangxi. Rich in cultural significance and architectural character, it stands as one of the best-preserved distinctive residential buildings in the province.

On May 19, 2002, the People's Government of Hunan Province designated it as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit, with the serial number 102-61.

Source: Overview of Cultural Relics in Hunan

Beixi Township: Beixi Township and Shatian Town have been merged to form Shatian Town.

A township under the jurisdiction of Guidong County. Established as a township in 1950, reorganized as Shatian Commune in 1958, renamed Beixi Commune in 1965, and reverted to a township in 1984. Located in the southwestern part of the county, 33 kilometers from the county seat, it covers an area of 47 square kilometers with a population of 5,000. The township government is located in Nanbian. National Highway 106 passes through here. It administers six village committees: Beixi, Shuangdong, Nanbian, Haoli, Dalin, and Niujiang. ... Detailed information about Beixi Township ++