Former Residence of Xue Yue

Former Residence of Xue Yue

The former residence of Xue Yue is located in two places: Xiaopingshi Village in Jiufeng Town and Xishiyan in Lecheng, Lechang City, Shaoguan, Guangdong Province. It consists of villas built by Xue Yue. Covering a total area of 1,771 square meters, it includes four structures: the former residence of Xue Yue, Xue Yue’s family home, the Xue Family Ancestral Hall, and the Boling Hall. Among these, the former residence of Xue Yue spans 308 square meters, Xue Yue’s family home covers 468 square meters, the Xue Family Ancestral Hall covers 414 square meters, and the Boling Hall spans 889 square meters.

The former residence of Xue Yue, Xue Yue’s family home, the Xue Family Ancestral Hall, and the Boling Hall all reflect a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles. The former residence of Xue Yue not only holds significant historical, scientific, and artistic value but also serves as a rare educational base for the history of the War of Resistance. It plays an important historical and practical role in consolidating and expanding the patriotic united front, protecting Taiwan-related cultural relics in the new era, and promoting tourism development.

The Xue Family Ancestral Hall is located to the right rear of the former residence of Xue Yue, about 5 meters apart. It is a hip-and-gable roof building with surrounding corridors, covering an area of 414 square meters. The overall floor plan of the ancestral hall is rectangular, surrounded by corridors. The main hall has four large stone pillars, and inside the hall hang several photos of Xue Yue in military uniform. There are five granite steps at the entrance of the ancestral hall, and above the central door is inscribed the four large characters “Xue Family Ancestral Hall.” The second floor of the ancestral hall features a wooden corridor. The main façade of the hall has a main gate, two smaller doors, and four vertical windows in between, while the sides and rear each have two smaller doors, interspersed with three and four vertical windows.

Xue Yue’s family home is located to the right rear of the Xue Family Ancestral Hall, about 50 meters away. It is a three-story brick-and-wood structure building with a courtyard layout in the shape of a “convex” character, showcasing a fairly typical style of traditional Chinese courtyard architecture.

The Boling Hall was built in the 29th year of the Republic of China (1940) by the engineering company under Xue Yue’s command at the time. The building has a “I”-shaped floor plan and is a two-story brick-and-wood structure designed by a French architect. With its “I”-shaped layout, it is referred to as having an “airplane-style” design. The building is divided into a front section (two stories), a passageway (one story), and a rear wing (two stories), reflecting a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles.

In 2011, the former residence of Xue Yue was handed over to the Lechang City Museum. In the same year, it was listed as a Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Guangdong Province.

Xue Yue (December 27, 1896 – May 3, 1998), courtesy name Boling, was a Han Chinese from Xiaopingshi Village, Jiufeng Town, Lechang County, Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province, and of Hakka descent. Originally named Xue Yangyue, he was given the name Yangyue (which means “to look up to Yue”) because he was born during the First Sino-Japanese War, and his father admired Yue Fei, the national hero who resisted the Jin invasion during the Southern Song Dynasty. Later, Xue Yangyue changed his name to Xue Yue, signifying not only admiration for Yue Fei but also a commitment to following his example.

He graduated from the sixth class of the Baoding Military Academy. After returning to Guangdong, he served as the commander of the first battalion of Sun Yat-sen’s guard regiment. During Chen Jiongming’s rebellion in 1922, Xue Yue protected Soong Ching-ling to safety. In the early stages of the Northern Expedition, he served as the … Detailed information about Xue Yue ++

Pingshi Village: Pingshi Village … Detailed information about Pingshi Village ++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units of Guangdong Province