Tianxingqiao Residential Complex

Tianxingqiao Residential Complex

Tianxingqiao Residential Complex

Tianxingqiao is located about 4 kilometers south of Taiping Town, where the Longtan River and the Wolong River converge. At the junction of the two rivers stands an ancient nine-arch stone bridge. Beneath the bridge, a massive rock features a naturally formed circular hole with a diameter of 30 centimeters, known as Tianxinwan (Heaven’s Heart Bowl). When the water level is just right, one can see a stream of river water flowing into the hole, forming a deep whirlpool before exiting from the bottom, hence the name Tianxin Bridge, later rewritten as Tianxing Bridge. This bridge serves as a vital transportation route between Wudong Town and Taiping Town, with a wide flagstone road crossing over it.

Directly above Tianxing Bridge lies a narrow, elongated peninsula. At the top of this peninsula stands a renowned ancient garden-style residential building called Tianxingqiao Bay. Due to its grand scale, exquisite architecture, and location reminiscent of Chongqing’s Chaotianmen, where the two rivers meet, it has been affectionately nicknamed “Little Chongqing.”

Tianxingqiao Bay faces south and is built with a composite structure of brick, wood, and stone. It is a four-courtyard, four-compound complex-style architectural group, serving as a feudal landlord manor. Constructed in the third year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1864), it was built by the local gentry Yi Shiting and his younger brother Yi Yuting. Yi Shiting had worked as a stonemason, carpenter, and calligraphy and painting mounter before starting a business in rapeseed oil and timber at age 30, earning substantial wealth. Yi Yuting served in an official construction-related position in the capital (his exact rank is unknown) and also amassed considerable savings. To honor their mother’s virtues, the brothers pooled their savings to build this manor. Covering nearly 10 acres with a construction area of over 3,000 square meters, it took over 13 years and dozens of stonemasons and carpenters to complete.

Approaching from the Wudong direction across Tianxing Bridge, and passing the Bridgehead Shop (a teahouse established by the manor owner specifically to offer tea to passersby), you will immediately see a tall stone memorial archway. According to Mr. Yi Zesheng, a descendant of the Yi family, this archway was built after the completion of the manor to commend the virtues of Madam Yi. It is called the Yi Chengshi Filial Piety Archway. The archway stands at least 13 meters high and no less than 10 meters wide. Its exquisitely carved openwork stone details are remarkable. At the top center is a vertical plaque inscribed with the two large characters “Shengzhi” (Imperial Edict). The archway has four steps and three openings, with the main flagstone road passing through the central opening. On either side stand a male and female stone lion, each 3 meters tall, creating a grand scene.

Passing through the stone archway, traversing the Horse Path (a horse-racing ground), and crossing the stone flat bridge over the Longtan River, you arrive at the first barrier directly in front of the manor — the front perimeter wall. Built from blue bricks, the wall is 3 meters high and over 30 meters long, with a corbelled flower-brick painted eave. At both ends of the wall are small side gates. Entering through the side gates leads to a 30-meter-long, 20-meter-wide flagstone courtyard, in front of which is a fishpond. To the right (from the viewer’s perspective, the same applies below) is a hexagonal study tower covering 40 square meters. This six-story, over 20-meter-tall brick-and-wood structure features carved wooden windows on each floor, a tiled roof with upturned eaves. At the center of the roof is a treasure tripod formed by stacking three spherical green ceramic vases. In sunlight, the tripod reflects a dazzling green glow.

On the left side of the courtyard is a theater stage called Caotingzi, named for its grass-covered ground.

The front of the courtyard features a row of brick-and-wood houses, 5 meters wide and 24 meters long, known as the Lower House. It consists of seven rooms, each with a 1-meter-long, 0.80-meter-high relief-painted floral brick window on the courtyard-facing wall. The Lower House has a large side gate in an octagonal shape, a wooden structure with three 7.50-meter-long whole flagstone steps. Inside the gate are two round stone pillars, each 3 meters tall and 0.40 meters wide, engraved with a couplet: “Auspicious beginnings by the Gui River echo far, lineage from Taiyuan extends for generations.” Each end of the Lower House has a small side gate.

After entering the main side gate, you reach the second flagstone courtyard and the second set of buildings. This courtyard is divided into left and right sections by a vertical partition wall. The right section is 10 meters long and wide, with a stone flower stand in the center and a needlework tower on the right. The brick-and-wood structure tower is 5 meters tall with a three-bay façade. Its plain base is 2 meters high, with extremely fine carvings, some lines as thin as 3 millimeters. The wall facing the courtyard has eight 1.50-meter-high, 0.60-meter-wide wooden windows, each with unique patterns. The gable wall at the top is a blue-brick fireproof wall, with a five-semicircle-shaped eave adorned with relief-painted patterns.

The partition wall contains an inner side gate. Passing through it leads to the left section of the courtyard, which is 15 meters long and equally wide. This area includes a small quadrangle courtyard schoolhouse, a brick-and-wood structure covering over 100 square meters with six rooms. The center is a square courtyard, 5 meters on each side, containing a 1-meter-high stone flower stand supported by four stone pillars. The room has ten independent wooden pillars, each resting on polygonal bases carved with exquisite floral, bird, and human figures.

Directly above the courtyard is the main hall, a brick-and-wood structure with a hanging gable roof and a post-and-lintel framework. It has four spans and five pillars, is 6 meters tall, 24.10 meters wide (five bays), and 10.20 meters deep. The plain base is 1 meter high, with a five-step staircase with 1-meter-wide steps and a 1-meter-wide step eave. Stone railings, 0.80 meters high, are carved with realistic bamboo motifs. The middle bay of the main hall serves as a passageway, featuring a wooden door with a finely crafted irregular polygonal window. The side bays on either side are open hallways connected to the front of the hallway, forming a spacious concave space used for hosting guests. A large wooden plaque inscribed with the golden characters “Shide Xiangcheng” (Virtue Passed Down Through Generations) hangs on the wall above. Many of the wooden pillars have stone bases, adorned with vividly carved human figures. The side bays connect to the tertiary bays, which are two-story wooden structures with painted floral brick windows. The ends of the main hall feature blue-brick fireproof walls with five-tiered steps and eaves, the tallest reaching 8 meters, with upturned eaves and carvings of flowers, birds, and animals, along with painted cloud and water patterns.

Outside the fireproof wall to the left of the main hall is a raised terrace that serves as a garden. Covering 150 square meters, the terrace has a 2.50-meter-high plain base and 0.80-meter-high stone railings with two intricately carved stone panels depicting scenes of houses and people. The garden houses rockeries, fish tanks, and potted rare flowers, blooming vibrantly in all seasons. To the left of the garden are three tiled rooms for enjoying flowers, tea, and chess.

Entering through the hallway of the main hall leads to the third courtyard, central hall, and wing rooms. This courtyard is paved with flagstones, 16 meters long and only 5 meters wide — the smallest yet most exquisite of the four courtyards. In the center is a three-meter-wide, five-step staircase, flanked by rectangular stone flower stands planted with exotic flowers and trees (one ancient crape myrtle resembling a dragon still survives). Outside each flower stand is a low blue-brick wall with a round gate, connecting to the path extending from the small side gate at the end of the Lower House. This area exudes a profound “deep courtyard” atmosphere.

The central hall is three bays wide, 6 meters tall, 16 meters long, and 9 meters deep. The middle bay is a passageway, while the side bays are two-story wooden structures with varied square and round windows, each uniquely designed. Flanking the central hall are left and right wing rooms, each extending over 20 meters to connect with the upper hall on the fourth level.

Entering through the central hall’s passageway leads to the fourth courtyard, upper hall, and adjacent rooms. This courtyard is 26 meters long and 12 meters wide, also paved with flagstones. At either end are the wing rooms extending from the central hall. Above the courtyard is the upper hall, a wooden structure five bays wide, 24 meters long, 9 meters deep, and 6 meters tall. It has a plain base 0.60 meters high and a three-step staircase. The middle bay is an open hall. Above it hangs a large wooden plaque, beneath which sits a shrine altar. Wooden carved tea tables and chairs line the sides. Each pillar hangs a 3-meter-long, 40-centimeter-wide couplet, all in black with gold characters (content now indecipherable).

The second and third bays of the upper hall are two-story wooden structures with uniquely patterned windows. The upper hall is the final building of the entire manor.

This manor is ingeniously designed. The overall layout is symmetrical with varied structures. Over a hundred windows, each with a unique pattern; 108 doors, each facing another; and a kilometer of winding corridors ensure your feet stay dry even on rainy days. Notably, the drainage system features dual layers in many areas — the upper layer for rainwater, the lower for wastewater — a remarkably eco-friendly design for its time. For aesthetic purposes, a bridge called Gaobridge was built 10 meters below Tianxing Bridge, together forming the two “tentacles” of Luosipo Hill.

Aside from the open area to the south, the manor is surrounded on the northeast and west by retaining walls over 3 meters high, constructed from long strip stones. Above the walls runs a bamboo and woodland belt over 10 meters wide, densely populated with ancient trees such as cypresses, bamboos, ormosias, sweet gums, crepe myrtles, ginkgos, and walnuts. Beyond the tree belt is a 3-meter-high, 0.40-meter-thick blue-brick wall, connecting with the outer gate wall to form a massive ellipse. Outside the wall lies dense forest, below which lies a shaded avenue paved with bluestones, and further down, the Wolong River and Longtan River.

Standing atop the hill behind the upper hall and looking out, you’ll see ancient woods towering on both sides, emerald rivers rippling with boats, and rows of giant willows along the banks. Below lies a sea of dark rooftops dotted with green trees and red flowers, swallows darting through, sparrows chirping, wisps of cooking smoke drifting in the breeze, and a few pedestrians moving leisurely or busily under the sun. Laughter and songs ring out intermittently, mingling with the sounds of reading — a true paradise on earth.

Today, the main structures of the manor remain, with at least 70% well preserved. The brick and stone work (excluding the walls) is over 95% intact.