Wu Family Zhongcheng Mansion

　　The Wu Family Zhongcheng Mansion is situated at No. 54, Maxiang. The original owner, Wu Guangyue, styled Xingyi and also known as Jianlou, became a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) in the first year of the Jiaqing reign (1796) during the Qing Dynasty. He served as a mid-level imperial clerk before being directly assigned to the Grand Council, later promoted to censor, and eventually appointed as the Governor-General of Jiangxi. Historical records indicate that when Guangyue was serving as an official in the Hebei Circuit of Henan Province, a dike burst occurred. He personally went to the site, patrolled day and night, supervised flood prevention efforts, and kept detailed records. He had an intimate knowledge of the conditions along the 500-li stretch of the embankment, and his methods were later cited as a model by the River Conservancy Commissioner. Later transferred to become Governor-General of Jiangxi, he faced disasters caused by prolonged heavy rain. He submitted a memorial requesting the retention of 80,000 shi of grain transported via the canal to address food shortages in the disaster area. He eventually passed away in office at the age of 73 due to overwork.

　　This Zhongcheng Mansion was constructed during his tenure as Governor-General of Jiangxi. It was built during the "Prosperous Era of Qianlong and Jiaqing," so both materials and design were particularly refined. Each section of the residence steps slightly upward from the previous, symbolizing “rising steadily in fortune.” Additionally, the main gates of each hall are slightly offset to prevent a direct line of sight through the entire structure, giving it a distinctive architectural style.

　　The residence consists of five courtyards in total, with nearly 100 rooms including the main and side halls, wing rooms, towers, and chambers. The large garden at the back covers an area of nearly 3,333.5 square meters. Upon entering the main gate, a plaque inscribed with the words “Zhongcheng Mansion” hangs from the beam. The second courtyard is the sedan-chair hall. The third courtyard is the main hall, which is 12.9 meters wide, 14.4 meters deep, and 9.1 meters high. At its center hangs a plaque inscribed with the character “Fu” (福, meaning “blessing”), written by Emperor Jiaqing. Beside the plaque is a golden-lacquered wooden box used to hold imperial edicts. The fourth and fifth courtyards served as living quarters for the family. The back garden features rockeries and shaded trees. Currently, the garden of the “Zhongcheng Mansion” has been destroyed, but the buildings remain intact, preserving the architectural style of Qing Dynasty official residences. Parts of the house are still inhabited by descendants of the Wu family, the main hall is used by the Maxiang Neighborhood Committee, and the rest serve as residential units.

　　Before the 1990s, Tu Ji, a veteran of the Xinhai Revolution and the first Civil Affairs Chief of Wujin County after the Republican restoration, rented a residence here. Tu Ji (1856–1921), also known as Yu and styled Jingshan, passed the imperial examination in 1892 during the Guangxu reign. He once served as a Hanlin Bachelor and was deeply accomplished in the study of Yuan Dynasty history. Here, he completed his compilation of the History of the Mongols (《蒙兀儿史》) and spent the rest of his life in this residence. Zhang Chunfan, author of the late Qing novel The Nine-Tailed Turtle (《九尾龟》), also lived here. In December 1987, it was designated as a municipal cultural relics protection unit.