Zhenyuan Traditional Residences

Zhenyuan Traditional Residences

Zhenyuan Traditional Residences are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Most are concentrated in the alleys. The mansions of wealthy merchants are all built in courtyard style, combining the charm of small southern gardens with the characteristics of being built against the mountains. Each grand residence is enclosed within tall firewalls, with doors slightly ajar, adorned with ornate gate towers and gilded plaques, such as "Feng Tang Zhao Ze" of the Fu Family Mansion and "Qing Bai Jia Sheng" of the Yang Maoming Mansion, all reflecting the pride and ambition of affluent families. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Wuyang River was bustling with thousands of sails and hundreds of boats in a scene of great prosperity. Back then, the Wuyang River had numerous bays and docks lined up along both shores, with teahouses and taverns standing shoulder to shoulder, while opera stages, temples, and the upturned eaves of firewalled buildings reflected on the clear waters. A magazine once introduced that in the late Qing Dynasty, France issued a postcard featuring an actual photograph of the busy river transport on the Wuyang River at that time. The photo showed ships densely packed along both banks, dividing the entire river into three parts—one for water, two for vessels. No wonder, among all places in Guizhou, Zhenyuan attracts more foreign tourists than anywhere else.