The Hu Family Residence in Gongjing

The Hu Family Residence in Gongjing

The Hu Family Residence in Gongjing is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

The Hu Family Residence in Gongjing, also known as the Hu ShenYi Hall, was the private residence of Hu Yuanhai, a major salt merchant in Zigong during the late Qing Dynasty. It is located on Yanhe Street in Changtu Town, Gongjing District. Construction began in 1850, followed by several renovations and expansions, and was finally completed in 1905 after 55 years, covering a total area of approximately 20,000 square meters. In July 2012, it was listed as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.

Hu Yuanhai, the salt merchant, was originally from Luling, Jiangxi (now Ji’an). He made his fortune through the cotton cloth trade. Between 1821 and 1850, he partnered with others in the salt business and earned substantial profits. He then purchased land at Dashanzhaiziling in Gongjing and built houses against the hillside.

Initially, the residence built by Hu Yuanhai consisted of a main building with two side wings, serving as living quarters and offices for managing the salt business. In 1865, Hu Yuanhai’s eldest son, Hu Mianzhai, renovated the original structure by adding an upper hall, middle hall, and side wings, forming an eight-courtyard layout. Locals referred to it as the “New House at Dashan.” The following year, construction resumed to add structures such as the embracing hall, side halls, main office, and steward rooms. By 1867, the construction was largely completed and named “Hu ShenYi Hall.” From 1894 to 1905, Hu Yuanhai’s grandson, Hu Ruxiu, carried out large-scale renovations and expansions. Eventually, the Hu ShenYi Hall was fully completed. The finished residence covered about 20,000 square meters and included over thirty buildings (or structures) such as residential complexes, ancestral halls, salt business management offices, a theater, garden architecture, and vast landscaped gardens. The western section of the complex was entirely designed in the pavilion style of the Grand View Garden from Dream of the Red Chamber, exuding great grandeur.

Many notable figures composed poems and inscriptions for the Hu ShenYi Hall, adding to its refined elegance. Calligrapher Zhao Xi wrote plaques and couplets here, including “Guan Yuan” (Garden Cultivation), “Yi Tang” (Pleasant Hall), and “Flowers with the Four Seasons.” Liang Qichao inscribed the horizontal plaque “Dashan Song Suo” (Pine Grove at Dashan). Wang Lianfu, one of the “Seven Masters of Bamboo Grove,” praised the lotus pond with the verse: “Ten thousand red lotuses pave a mirror bright, water and mountain hues enhance their light. Ask who can cleanse the air so pure, it is this lake that makes streams demure.” This vividly depicts the beautiful scenery of the place.

Lu Jian, a researcher of Zigong’s salt culture, commented that as a private residence, the Hu ShenYi Hall had the largest floor space of any residence in southern Sichuan at the time. The architectural complex itself is the most grandiose, beautifully landscaped, structurally intact, and representative of the residential architecture of salt merchants in southern Sichuan during the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty. It stands as a witness to Zigong’s modern salt industry history and a relic of salt merchant culture.

Protected area: 5 meters beyond the site boundary.

Construction control zone: 50 meters east of the protected area, 50 meters south, 50 meters west, and 20 meters north.

Changtu Subdistrict: A town under the jurisdiction of Gongjing District, Zigong City. When Zigong City was established in 1939, it belonged to Shangqiu Town. In 1953, it was divided into the Changtu Subdistrict Office and Taiping Township. In 1959, it became Shuangtang Commune, which was renamed Shuangtang Township in 1982. In 1995, Changtu Subdistrict and Shuangtang Township were merged into Changtu Town. Located in the southeastern part of the district, it is 3 kilometers from the district government. Covering an area of 20.9 square kilometers, it has a population of 28,000. Provincial Highway Gongshu, County Road Zhangyong, and suburban roads run through the area. It governs 10 village committees: Yuantan, Huangjue, Dapo, Daba, Shalu, Xinhua, Shiniu, Dongqiao, Santai, and Shigou, as well as residential communities including Luosita, Changtu Subdistrict, ... More details about Changtu Subdistrict++

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units