Fuluji Residential Complex

Fuluji Residential Complex

The Fuluji Residential Complex is a Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Fuluji Residential Complex (including Zhendonglou, Zhulinju, Chongbenlou, Zhousimalou, Benlijyu, and Jiliju) is a hidden Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit nestled within the city. It is located in Fuluji, Pan’keng Village, Sanjiao Town, Meijiang District, Meizhou City, and consists of six ancient buildings dating from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period, including Zhendonglou.

Among the residences, Zhendonglou is the most notable. This building was jointly constructed during the Republic of China period by six brothers of the Malaysian Chinese overseas Xiong Juxian family. It took a long time to build, has many floors, and was very costly — making it highly influential in the eastern Guangdong region at the time. Hence, it was named “Zhendonglou” (Suppressing the East Tower), and even its plaque was inscribed by Wu Tiecheng, then Governor of Guangdong Province. Zhendonglou features a six-bay, three-courtyard, three-story structure. During the Republic of China period, most buildings in Meizhou’s Hakka architecture had only two stories, but Zhendonglou broke this convention with its three-story design. The building was ultimately completed with a total cost of 320,000 taels of silver. In comparison, the Meijiang Bridge cost 120,000 taels and Lianfanglou cost 240,000 taels — which illustrates the high standards applied to Zhendonglou’s construction.

In addition to Zhendonglou, the Fuluji ancient residential complex also includes five other structures: Zhousimalou, Jiliju, Benlijyu, Zhulinju, and Chongbenlou. These buildings feature a variety of styles, including the common weilongwu (enclosed dragon house) layout and the distinctive gan-style tower design.

Although the Fuluji ancient residential complex only includes six ancient buildings from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period, there is also an Indonesian-style building in Fuluji with a uniquely named structure: “1957,” named after its year of construction. This Southeast Asian-style building is rare to find in Meizhou.

In 2010, the People’s Government of Guangdong Province designated it as part of the Sixth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units