The Ha Rui Residence

The Ha Rui Residence

The Ha Rui Residence is a cultural relic protection unit of Gansu Province.

The Ha Rui Residence is located within the courtyard at No. 13, 15, and 17, Chengyuan Lane, Qincheng District, Tianshui City. It faces south with a northern orientation and features a traditional quadrangle layout, consisting of three courtyards in a single entry and over 40 rooms of various sizes. The front includes a main gate, a solid wall, and a floral-pendant gate, with a central passageway and two two-story wooden buildings at the rear. The overall layout, beam structure, and exquisitely crafted brick and wood carvings of the residence provide important material for the study of ancient residential architecture from the Qing Dynasty in Tianshui City and even the eastern part of Gansu.

Ha Rui (1862–1923), styled Ruian, was of Hui ethnicity. He was a Hanlin Bachelor during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty and a modern industrialist. After more than 20 years in official service, he resigned and returned to his hometown, where he established industries in Tianshui. He also devoted 16 years to education, contributing significantly to the development of education in Tianshui. In 1992, Tianjin Ancient Books Publishing House released The Collected Works of Ha Rui, which includes some of his poetry, essays, couplets, and calligraphy.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Relic Protection Units in Gansu Province