Former Residence of Kong Xiangxi (Kong Family Courtyard)

The Former Residence of Kong Xiangxi (Kong Family Courtyard) is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.

Former Residence of Kong Xiangxi (Third Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Kong Xiangxi’s Residence

Era: Qing Dynasty

Address: Shangguan Lane, Taiyü County

Originally the residence of the fallen gentry Meng Guangyu from Taiyü. Construction began during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty and was completed in the Xianfeng reign. In the 19th year of the Republic of China (1930), Kong Xiangxi purchased it for 20,000 silver dollars and carried out minor renovations. In 1934, when Chiang Kai-shek stayed here, he had it repainted and decorated, and added furnishings. It is relatively well preserved. The property includes the main courtyard, kitchen courtyard, study courtyard, theater courtyard, Ink Manor courtyard, West Garden, and parts of the damaged East Garden, all retaining the architectural style of the mid-Qing Dynasty.

The residence faces south and is situated on a north-south axis. It is 91 meters wide from east to west and 69.5 meters long from north to south, covering an area of 6,324.5 square meters. It consists of multiple horizontally arranged compound courtyards, each divided along the central axis into several quadrangle courtyards. Each courtyard is adorned with plaques inscribed by notable figures. The main buildings feature intricate wooden brackets and upturned eaves, painted in rich colors. The courtyards house various halls, with connecting corridors and rooms, as well as carved beams and painted rafters. The spaces between the buildings are complemented by windows and doors of diverse styles, adding vibrant charm to the architecture. Especially noteworthy is how a relatively small area integrates southern-style gardens with northern residential design, a unique highlight in architectural planning.

Kong Xiangxi’s Residence combines the characteristics of northern residential architecture with the charm of southern garden design. Its layout is elegant, with a clear hierarchy and distinctive style. The combination of multi-story buildings and single-story houses, along with a variety of window and door designs, creates a lively and harmonious ensemble. Particularly impressive is the integration of a southern-style garden into a northern-style residence within a limited space—an exceptional feat in architectural design.

In May 2013, the Former Residence of Kong Xiangxi (Kong Family Courtyard) was listed as part of the seventh batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

Address: No. 1, Shangguan Lane, Taiyü County, Jinzhong City (within Taiyü Normal School)

Type: Celebrity Residence

Rating: AAA

Recommended Visiting Time: About 2 hours

Phone: 0354-6230121

Opening Hours:

8:00-18:30

Ticket Information:

Door Price: 45.0 RMB

Kong Xiangxi (1880–1967), courtesy name Yongzhi, art name Ziyan, was a native of Taiyü, Shanxi.

Born on September 10, 1882, in Kong Residence, Chengjiazhuang, western suburbs of Taiyü County, Shanxi, he was the 75th-generation descendant of Confucius. Kong Xiangxi lost his mother at age six, and his father did not remarry. In 1901, he went to Oberlin College in the United States, and in 1905, he entered the graduate school of Yale University to study mineralogy. After graduating in 1909, he returned to China. He declined official positions offered by the Qing government’s Postal and Communications Ministry, stating his desire to embody the spirit of Oberlin by serving in remote and impoverished areas… [More details about Kong Xiangxi]

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level