Lanfang Building

Lanfang Building

The Lanfang Building is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

The Lanfang Building was built in 1908 during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty. It was a school funded by Xu Huaqing, who served as the “Director General of Medical Administration.” All the wooden doors in the rooms feature exquisite carvings, and the pavilion-style central hall is relatively rare in Wuhua. The Lanfang Building holds certain value for the study of ancient Wuhua architecture and historical materials related to Xu Huaqing.

The Lanfang Building (originally a school) is located in Loujiang Village, Anliu Town, Wuhua County, and was built during the Qing Dynasty. It faces northeast and is situated southwest, with walls made of lime, sand, stone, and adobe bricks. The roof is a hanging gable style covered with tiles, supported by wooden beams and purlins. The building has a width of five bays, a depth of two bays, with a side wing on the left. It is 18.2 meters deep and 26 meters wide, featuring a central corridor, surrounding corridors, and a courtyard-style layout. In front, there is a drying terrace and a crescent-shaped pond. Total area: approximately 1,236 square meters of land, with about 473 square meters of built-up area.

The Lanfang Building was funded and built by Xu Huaqing and has undergone several renovations over the years. Inside the building, stone pillars support beams, and various beam frames and components feature well-preserved carvings, paintings, and murals. Several cultural relics such as plaques are also preserved. In January 2014, it was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Meizhou City.

Protected area: 21 meters forward from the front wall, 2 meters backward from the rear wall, 2 meters to the left of the facing wall, and 2 meters to the right of the facing wall. Area: approximately 1,236 square meters.

Construction control zone: extending outward from the protected area — 10 meters forward, 8 meters backward, 10 meters to the left, and 10 meters to the right. Area: approximately 1,724 square meters.

Xu Huaqing (1861–1924), also known as Jinglan, was a native of Loujiang Village, Anliu Town. He held positions such as the Director of Tianjin Official Hospital and was a Lieutenant General in the Army. Xu Huaqing served as the “Director General of Medical Administration” under the Qing government, the “Military Medical Director” (equivalent to a General rank) of the Beiyang Government of the Republic of China, the first president of China’s first military medical school — the Beiyang Army Medical School, and the first chairman of the Chinese Red Cross Society. He is hailed as the “Father of Chinese Military Medicine.” At the age of twelve, he went to Hong Kong to work, received funding from a church, and later enrolled in the medical program at the University of Hong Kong. During the Self-Strengthening Movement, thanks to his outstanding academic performance and familiarity with… More details about Xu Huaqing ++

Anliu Town: 1. Geographic Location: Anliu Town is situated in the southern part of Wuhua County. It borders Mianyang Town to the east, Meilin Town to the south, Zhoujiang Town to the west, and Hengbei Town to the north. The town covers an area of 238 square kilometers. Provincial highways Huishui Line and Anpu Line intersect at Anliu Market, and the Qijiang River runs through the entire town. It serves as a key passage for Wuhua to reach Zijin, the Pearl River Delta, and coastal areas such as Jiexi and Luhe. 2. Historical Background and Organizational Structure: The administrative setup of Anliu Town has a history of several hundred years. After the liberation, the names of administrative bodies and their jurisdictions have changed multiple times. It has been known as Anliu Township, Anliu Commune, and Anliu District Office… More details about Anliu Town ++

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units

· Second Batch of Meizhou Municipal Cultural Relic Protection Units