The Cai Family’s Scholarly Ancient Houses in Binyang

The Cai Family’s Scholarly Ancient Houses

The Cai Family’s Scholarly Ancient Houses Scenic Area in Gula Town, Binyang County, is currently the only tourism demonstration zone in Nanning, Guangxi, that primarily combines ancient architecture, traditional culture, and modern agriculture. The scenic area mainly features ancient buildings, historic settlement culture, folk customs, and agricultural sightseeing, offering farmhouse stays and rural tourism activities, making it an ideal destination for self-drive tours.

The origins of the ancient house complex in the Cai Family’s Scholarly Ancient Houses Scenic Area cannot be confirmed, but the oldest structures were destroyed in warfare in the ninth year of the Xianfeng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1859 AD). The oldest surviving buildings were rebuilt by Cai Lingxiao, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Qing Dynasty, after the destruction in 1859.

The Cai Family’s Scholarly Ancient Houses complex covers nearly 70,000 square meters, with over 180 rooms of various sizes. The main buildings are all divided into a front hall, a second hall, and a third hall, with the front hall being the tallest, and the second and third halls gradually decreasing in height, reflecting the supreme status of the main hall. Each hall is connected on both sides by corridors, with courtyards in the middle, forming a “four waters return to the hall” architectural layout that embodies the folk architectural concept of “wealth gathering from all directions.” The outer perimeter is surrounded by enclosed corridors, creating a protective barrier. At the back corners of the corridors, there are two tall watchtowers where guards could observe activities inside and outside the village. The village is also enclosed by a rammed earth wall with gunports for firing weapons, and outside the wall lies a protective moat. Overall, the Cai Family ancient houses have the grandeur of a traditional wealthy estate. The strict symmetry of the entire architecture is particularly prominent, further highlighting the solemnity and majesty of the buildings. The courtyard ground is paved with large bluestones or blue bricks, with different paving methods distinguishing main paths from secondary ones. The roofs are adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, while doors and windows are decorated with seal script patterns such as “prosperity, wealth, and longevity.” The front gate also features landscape paintings and seal script calligraphy. The entire structure is highly artistic, reflecting a profound cultural heritage and serving as a typical living example for studying local Qing Dynasty residential architecture.

The Cai family revered Confucian culture and established the Cai Family Academy, which enshrined a statue of Confucius year-round. The Cai family has historically maintained an extremely strict and almost harsh system of private tutoring, and for centuries, the Cai Village has produced many talented individuals. Additionally, the Cai family has over 500 members, including eight who are over 90 years old and more than ten who are over 80. This longevity phenomenon is worth exploring—whether it stems from inherited longevity genes, the influence of local dietary traditions, or the blessings of the unique spiritual aura of the ancient houses. The Cai Family’s ancient houses leave us with mysterious and endless food for thought. Most poignant of all is how a single family managed to maintain a continuous scholarly legacy for centuries. What kind of spirit supported this tradition? It’s likely something that cannot be fully explained by the feudal-era saying, “Studying well leads to official success.”

Scenic Area Address: Cai Village, Gula Town, Binyang County, Nanning City