Former Residence of Luo Bingzhang

Former Residence of Luo Bingzhang

The former residence of Luo Bingzhang is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The former residence of Luo Bingzhang is located at No. 19, 35, 45, and 49, Qianzhai, Donghuali, Fuxian Road, Fuxian Community Committee, Zumiao Subdistrict Office, Chancheng District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province. It was built during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty. The site features four Qingyun Lanes and four longitudinal rows of Qing brick houses, each row consisting of three sets of three-bay, two-gallery courtyard-style brick-and-wood structures. The buildings face south with a north orientation, spanning 12.26 meters in width and 41.67 meters in depth, covering an area of 510.9 square meters. The main architectural features include wok-ear-shaped firewalls, dragon boat-style ridges, and grey brick walls. The main entrance façade of each row showcases a traditional local “回” (double-door) style, with polished grey bricks, finely carved eaves boards featuring figures and floral motifs, grand and wide granite door frames, solid wooden doors, sliding bolts, and intricately carved wooden foot doors. The first set of three bays and two galleries has an entrance hall known as the reverse-facing hall, followed by a courtyard (garden), then a main hall used as a shrine, side rooms for living, and corridors on both sides of the courtyard—this combination is referred to as the front residence. The second and third sets of three bays and two galleries, called the rear residence, all share a layout of one courtyard, two corridors, a central hall, and two-story side rooms. The eastern corridor of the courtyard serves as the kitchen, while the western corridor door connects to the Qingyun Lane, featuring exquisitely carved brickwork above the door. Each central hall contains decorative elements such as screen doors and carved wooden flower screens. Each Qingyun Lane has a gatehouse with refined brick carvings above the gate, and there are also wells on the premises. Luo Bingzhang passed the imperial examination as a Jinshi in the 12th year of the Daoguang reign, and he served as an imperial censor of the Jiangnan Circuit, judicial commissioner of Hubei, governor of Hunan, was conferred the title of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, and awarded a hereditary post of First Class Light Chariot Commandant. The former residence of Luo Bingzhang is a typical example for studying the development and evolution of local towns, streets, and residential architecture, the residential customs and mansion layout patterns of the Cantonese region, and the orientation towards living environments. In June 2001, the Donghuali ancient architectural complex, which includes this residence, was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

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