The Old Residence of the Ji Family

The Old Residence of the Ji Family

Among the residential buildings in Pingyao, the most legendary is the Old Residence of the Ji Family on Zhanma Dao Street. The residence is located at Courtyard No. 8, Zhanma Dao Street, within the county town, and its current owner is Ji Hutang, the 22nd-generation descendant of the Ji family.

The Old Residence of the Ji Family, located at Courtyard No. 8, Zhanma Dao Street, within the ancient city of Pingyao, is now owned by Ji Hutang, the 22nd-generation descendant of the Ji family. He explains that the family’s founding ancestor, Ji Youxian, became wealthy through overseas trade during the late Yuan Dynasty and had frequent dealings with the government. In the mid-14th century, he purchased this land at great expense and built a tower called “Qifeng Tower” in the 11th year of the Zhizheng era (1351). In the 2nd year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1369), a major flood struck, causing the western city wall of Pingyao to collapse and numerous houses to be destroyed by the floodwaters. Only “Qifeng Tower” (now the main building within the Ji Family’s Old Residence) remained intact, while the rest of the area was buried under red silt. By the 3rd year of the Hongwu era (1370), the city walls were expanded and rebuilt into the shape of a tortoise, and streets began to form around the Qifeng Tower area. The street was named after the tower, known as “Qifeng Street,” and from the early 20th century onward, it became commonly known as “Zhanma Dao Street.”

The Ji family was the ancestral home of the manager of the Rishengchang Exchange Shop. Visitors can now buy tickets to tour the site. For 20 yuan, it’s not one of the 22 major attractions, and the buildings inside show some signs of aging.

Location

Courtyard No. 8, Zhanma Dao Street, inside the ancient city of Pingyao

Admission Fee

20 yuan