Former Residence of Bai Chongxi in Lingui

Former Residence of Bai Chongxi in Lingui

The former residence of Bai Chongxi is a cultural tourism attraction.

The former residence of Bai Chongxi is located in Shanwei Village, Huixian Town, Lingui County, Guilin City, 30 kilometers south of Guilin. It was first built in 1929 and completed in 1937. Originally covering an area of 2,041 square meters, the residence was a large composite-style manor situated against a mountain and beside water, featuring wells, ponds, and lotus pools at the foot of the hill, as well as a mosque and school within the estate. Currently, only the main building and auxiliary structures remain, covering an area of 841 square meters with a total construction area of about 1,500 square meters. According to research, this residence was originally invested in and built by Bai Chongxi’s elder brother, one of the leaders of the Kuomintang’s Guangxi clique. In 2000, the Lingui County People’s Government allocated special funds for its renovation, and it has since been designated as a key cultural relics protection unit of Lingui County.

The main building faces south and is approximately 15 meters wide and 45 meters deep, forming a neat rectangle. It is enclosed by high, solid gray brick walls that are 9 meters tall and 0.4 meters thick. Apart from the front gate, there are only four small windows, each about 0.6 meters wide and 1.2 meters high, on the side gables. The thick exterior walls give the structure a grand, solemn, and imposing appearance.

The main building is a two-story wooden structure laid out in a pattern of “one entrance with three bays, one central courtyard with two wing rooms at the front and rear.” The building centers around a courtyard and includes auxiliary features such as flower stands and fish ponds. Living rooms and wing rooms are arranged at both the northern and southern ends, while a wooden staircase leads to the second floor on the eastern side. Both floors have surrounding corridors encircling the central courtyard. The living room is fully open to the courtyard, and the wing rooms feature latticed windows opening inward to the yard, ensuring ample lighting and ventilation. At the southernmost end is a backyard, 3.5 meters deep, with semi-circular pools built along either side near the wall to collect rainwater, known as “heavenly water,” which was used to water livestock and also served as fire-fighting water. The entire building features thick outer walls, high floors, a large central courtyard, numerous windows, and excellent ventilation, overcoming the common issues of dimness and stuffiness found in traditional homes. In particular, the four small windows at the upper ends of the gables align with the principles of ventilation shafts, helping to keep the interior warm in winter and cool in summer.

The wooden components of the residence such as doors, window frames, lintels, and carved railings are designed simply and painted in light blue-gray, blending harmoniously with the gray brick walls to create an elegant, rustic charm. The hipped roof tiles all slope inward, with the base of the slope fitted with iron sheeting to form a drainage gutter that connects to water spouts at the corners of the eaves, creating an organized “four waters return to the hall” drainage system.

The entire residence is fully functional. While inheriting the architectural style of northern Guangxi residences, it also incorporates Western architectural elements. Notably, the arched decorative trim on the doors and windows, as well as the use of simple stained glass in the windows, give it distinct architectural characteristics of the early Republican era.

Scenic Area Address: Shanwei Village, Huixian Town, Lingui County, Guilin City

Transportation: Take a bus headed for Huixian-Huixian from Guilin Bus Terminal and get off at Shanwei Village, Huixian

Bai Chongxi (March 18, 1893 – December 2, 1966), courtesy name Jiansheng, was a native of Guilin, Guangxi, and a First Class General of the Army of the Republic of China. He was a central figure in the New Guangxi Clique warlords and was known together with Li Zongren as “Bai-Li.” The two cooperated closely for many years, initially joining Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary faction in Guangzhou and later jointly ousting the old warlords in Guangxi. During the Northern Expedition, he led Guangxi troops to Shanhaiguan. After the success of the expedition, he fought multiple battles against Chiang Kai-shek and other regional forces. When the War of Resistance against Japan broke out, the two mobilized Guangxi troops to fight the Japanese and jointly commanded several major battles, achieving repeated... Bai Chongxi's detailed information++