Silver Yuan Mountain Villa

Silver Yuan Mountain Villa

Silver Yuan Mountain Villa is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

Silver Yuan Mountain Villa is located in Guangou Village, Pingtan Town, and is a typical residential architectural complex from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties in northern China. The villa consists of the Zhang Family Courtyard and natural mineral water landscapes. The Zhang Family Courtyard was initially built around the mid-Qing Dynasty, circa the 39th year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign (around 1700), with a total floor area of 24,000 square meters above and below ground (including Shawan Shuangxi Courtyard), consisting of 185 rooms and 125 cave dwellings. The overall compound is constructed into a 30-meter-high, 75-degree sloped stone cliff, featuring 10 levels of buildings made up of 11 courtyard suites. In recent years, Guangou Village has adopted a method of developing while planning and opening, creating attractions such as the former residence of Mr. Zhang Shilin, the memorial room of martyr Zhang Meilin, and the former site of Yangzheng School. These elements integrate the ancient courtyard structures with modern aesthetic tastes, and it has been hailed as Shanxi’s “Little Potala Palace.”

The Zhang Family Courtyard, located three kilometers west of Yangquan City in Guangou Village, Pingtan Town, is a residential architectural complex from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period. It features distinctive northern residences with characteristics of eastern Shanxi, making it one of the few folk tourism attractions in Yangquan. There are 11 courtyard suites built into the stone cliffs along the mountain, spanning a vertical drop of 50 meters, forming 10 levels of architecture that adapt to the terrain. Its staggered layout, integration with the mountain and rocks, and densely arranged yet cohesive structure make it unique. Outsiders have vividly dubbed it the “Little Potala Palace” within Yangquan, and from a distance, it indeed bears a resemblance.

Upon entering the gate of the Zhang Family Courtyard, you’ll see a stone-paved slope, which serves as the entrance pathway. This path extends all the way to the center of the village. The road, entirely paved with uniform stones, winds its way toward the homes scattered throughout the village. The village is clean and dust-free, with every household door uniformly featuring a grayish-black gate. The facades are quaint and classic, exuding the charm of Republican-era architecture.