Anjia Courtyard

　　Anjia Courtyard is situated to the north of Guyi Street, the busiest commercial hub in Yangliuqing during its heyday, standing directly opposite Shijia Courtyard on the southern side of the street. Constructed during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, it has a history of 150 years. Covering an area of over 1,000 square meters, the courtyard complex consists of three sections laid out in the classic northern-style quadrangle complex formation. The front features a large central yard, internally connected by gateways, while the rear section is divided into two smaller courtyards to the east and west. Underground remnants within the courtyards include a Qing Dynasty-era vault for storing precious metals and a fallout shelter from the Cultural Revolution. These three interconnected courtyards feature a well-balanced layout, intricate yet fluid in design, exemplifying the traditional inner-residence outer-courtyard structural style. The owner of the estate, An WenZhong, was the first from Yangliuqing to embark on the "march to support the army camps" — a pioneering effort in civil support for military logistics. He introduced a novel approach to aiding the Qing army under Zuo Zongtang’s command during their long campaign in Xinjiang, thereby contributing to the preservation of China’s territorial integrity.

　　Anjia Courtyard was the residence of the An family from Yangliuqing, known for their "march to support the army camps." During the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, four An brothers successively trekked to Xinjiang on foot, made their fortunes there, and eventually returned home. They used their earnings to purchase this grand mansion. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Anjia Courtyard became a shared residential compound. Prior to the Cultural Revolution, the front yard was repurposed as the “Yangliuqing Health Clinic.” Before the restoration project began, the site housed 27 resident families who had erected over 30 makeshift structures. The restoration of Anjia Courtyard was carried out based on extensive historical documentation and in line with the architectural style of the "Eight Great Houses" of old Tianjin’s urban core. Employing the principle of "restoring the old as it was," the 150-year-old property has been meticulously revived to showcase its former grandeur. Additionally, the century-old wisteria and grape trellises have been redesigned, while the west screen wall and connecting pathways between the two courtyards have been carefully refurbished. According to restoration experts, Anjia Courtyard holds two notable distinctions: not only is its foundation 0.5 meters higher than that of Shijia Courtyard — setting a record high in Yangliuqing — but it also boasts the largest single-courtyard layout in the town.

　　

　　Address: No. 28, Guyi Street, Yangliuqing, Xiqing District

　　Phone: 27915591