Former Residence of Li Xiaoyan

Former Residence of Li Xiaoyan

The former residence of Li Xiaoyan is a cultural tourism attraction.

Li Xiaoyan (1889–1930), originally named Zhengyuan, with the courtesy name Le, was from Lijiatun in Pingjie Township, Zhenfeng County, Guizhou Province. His ancestral home was in Shaoyang, Hunan. He emerged as a prominent military figure during the warlord conflicts in Republican-era Guizhou and served as the provisional chairman of the Guizhou Provincial Government in 1929.

The former residence of Li Xiaoyan is located in Lijiatun, Pingjie Township, about 40 kilometers north of Zhenfeng County. It was built in the 15th year of the Republic of China (1926). The complex consists of a main building and wing rooms on both sides, forming a single-story, two-courtyard quadrangle facing east and backed by west, with a wooden structure and a hanging gable roof. The stone arch gate is flanked by carved parallel couplets in regular script: “The learning of the poet Li Bai surpassed that of the Tang Dynasty; the great achievements trace back to the Han family,” with the inscription above: “The joy of a noble house welcomes the harmony of spring.” The calligraphy is smooth and powerful. The main hall has five rooms, spanning 20 meters in width, 10 meters in depth, and 9.33 meters in height. The left and right wing rooms each have three rooms, measuring 10.1 meters in width, 8 meters in depth, and 7 meters in height. The courtyard features a screen wall and flower stands, with carved floral patterns adorning the doors and windows. The screen wall is painted with a large landscape painting, and the flower stands are planted with various colorful flowers. The bricks are embossed with inscriptions such as “Celebrating our noble dwelling” and “Constructed on a lucky day in the 15th year of the Republic of China, 1926, by Xiaoyan, Wenbo, and Shuyan.” The entire structure covers an area of approximately 1,000 square meters. The residence is well-preserved today.

Zhenfeng County – Former Residence of Li Xiaoyan, Provisional Chairman of the Republican-era Guizhou Provincial Government. Accessible via Provincial Highway 210, about a 2-hour drive. Admission is free.