Xiaoshu Cottage

Xiaoshu Cottage

Xiaoshu Cottage is a Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Site.

“Xiaoshu Cottage” is located in Chengnan Village, Renju Town, Pingyuan County, Guangdong Province. Constructed in 1930, it spans an area of 2,500 square meters, faces south with its back to the north, and is built against a hillside. It is a traditional Hakka enclosed residence consisting of two halls, two wings, and one enclosing dragon. In 2003, it was designated as a county-level cultural relic protection unit, and in 2008, it was listed in the fifth batch of Guangdong Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Constructed in the 19th year of the Republic of China (1930 AD), Xiaoshu Cottage covers an area of 2,500 square meters, faces south with its back to the north, and is built along a hillside. The structure consists of two halls, two wings, and one enclosing dragon, totaling 35 rooms, 7 halls, 4 auxiliary rooms, 3 courtyards, and 1 flower stand. It was built by Yan Yingyu, a native who once served as a division commander in the National Revolutionary Army. In the early years after the liberation, it served as the site of the Pingyuan County Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the County Land Reform Committee.

To the right of the main building are four auxiliary rooms, and outside the front courtyard stands a 1.2-meter-high screen wall. On both sides of the screen wall are connected rooms and halls. To the left is an outer gate tower. In front of the house is a trapezoidal pond, originally surrounded by a railing. To the right front is a well, with a compact and delicate overall layout. Carved screens are installed between pillars and at hall entrances to divide spaces and serve decorative purposes. The main gate is made of high-quality timber and clad in iron sheeting. The front doors of the two wings and the rear corners of the house are equipped with loopholes for lookout and defense, designed to prevent arson attacks and intrusions, ensuring the safety of the interior.

Although Xiaoshu Cottage is built with brick, tile, and wood, it uses high-quality materials such as fine timber and lime. The structure features painted beams and carved rafters, varnished doors and painted pillars. Door frames, patio edges, and stair treads are all crafted from finely cut brown granite. The main gate tower has a hip-and-gable roof style, with lotus-petal bracket sets, painted and carved decorations, giving it a palatial aesthetic. The walls are adorned with historical story murals.

Enclosed dragon-style Hakka houses are common in Hakka regions, but palace-style gate towers are extremely rare. Located in Linshixia, Chengnan Village, Renju Town, Pingyuan County, a Hakka enclosed dragon house called “Xiaoshu Cottage” not only exhibits typical traditional Hakka architectural features but also uniquely incorporates a palace-style design for its main hall gate tower. It is a Hakka residence that blends traditional Hakka architecture with palace-style elements.

Renju Town: Renju Town is situated in the northeastern part of Pingyuan County. It borders Chagan Town to the east, Bachi Town to the west, Hetou and Shangju Towns to the south, and Jitang Town and Xiangshan Township of Xunwu County, Jiangxi Province to the north. To the northeast, it neighbors Wuping County in Fujian Province. The total area of the town is 189 square kilometers. It administers 17 village committees, 1 residents' committee, and a total of 192 natural villages. By the end of 2003, there were 6,051 households and 22,886 residents. In 2003, the town’s gross domestic product reached 76.09 million yuan; the combined industrial and agricultural output value was 145.97 million yuan, including 68.97 million yuan from agriculture and 77 million yuan from industry... More details about Renju Town++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites