Former Residence of Liu Bingyu

The Former Residence of Liu Bingyu

The former residence of Liu Bingyu is a cultural tourism attraction.

The former residence of Liu Bingyu is located in Liantang Village, Hema Township, Wuxuan County, Laibin City. It was built during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, faces west with its back to the east, and covers a total area of 6,267 square meters, with a building area of 3,014 square meters. The main house has three floors, while the auxiliary buildings have two, all constructed with a composite structure of blue bricks. Built on the foundation of traditional Lingnan manor architectural style, the residence incorporated Western architectural elements, making it a fusion of Chinese and Western design. In 2004, it was designated as a municipal-level key cultural relics protection unit by the People’s Government of Laibin City.

The layout of the residence still follows the traditional Chinese courtyard style. The central main house is compactly arranged, with rooms connected by inner corridors and strict left-right symmetry. A ancestral hall is situated at the rear of the main building, while the front features a front courtyard flanked by wing rooms on both sides. Guard towers are positioned at the four corners of the courtyard, with the first two connected by a covered corridor. The front courtyard is landscaped with flowers, plants, and trees, complementing the pond in front. Influenced by the entry of French missionaries during the late Qing Dynasty, who introduced Western church architectural forms, the residence was also significantly impacted — its facade design is uniquely fantastical, giving off a solemn and dignified impression. The main house floor is paved with square bricks, the walls are made of blue bricks, the floors are wooden, and the roof is covered with blue tiles. The wing rooms are also constructed from blue bricks, connected by columned verandas, and topped with blue tile roofs.

Liu Bingyu (1869–1923) Liu Bingyu, styled Tongcheng, was a native of Xialiantang Village, Hema Township. In the mid-period of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty, he passed the martial arts examination. Between the 31st and 32nd years of Guangxu (1905–1906), he mined coal in Heshan, becoming one of the earliest pioneers in coal mining in Guangxi’s Heshan area. Later, due to losses in mining, he returned to his hometown and served as deputy head of the local militia bureau. He then recruited and organized a bandit-suppression team in the region, and was promoted by the Xunzhou Prefecture to the rank of battalion commander.

After the success of the 1911 Revolution, Liu Guxiang served as the leader of the Fifth Army Corps, with Liu Bingyu as his deputy, stationed in Liuzhou. Not long after, Liu Bingyu was transferred to serve as the commander of the Xunfang Defense Forces and concurrently as the garrison commander of Guiping, with the additional military rank of Major General.

In the 6th year of the Republic of China (1917)… More details about Liu Bingyu ++