Mei Family Courtyard

　　             Introduction        The Mei Family Courtyard (also known as the Overseas Chinese Architecture Complex of Tingjiang Market) is located by the Datong River in Duanfen Town. It was built in 1931 by local overseas Chinese surnamed Mei, along with their family members and relatives. Covering an area of 80 acres, the courtyard consists of 108 two- to three-story buildings with arcades, arranged in a rectangular formation, closely packed and uniformly aligned. In the center lies a 40-acre open market space dedicated to vendors selling goods, making the entire complex resemble a small square city—hence the name “Mei Family Courtyard.” Since its initial construction, the design and planning incorporated architectural styles and features from the various countries where the owners had resided, blending them with traditional Chinese architectural art. As a result, the buildings exhibit both Western architectural styles and traditional Chinese elements. Although the structures are uniformly planned, each building has a unique exterior, reflecting not only the architectural trends of market towns at the time but also, to some extent, the mindset of the overseas Chinese community back then.

　　              Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province