Former Residence of Yuan Shikai in Xiangcheng

　　The Former Residence of Yuan Shikai is the birthplace of Yuan Shikai, a prominent historical figure and the first President of the Republic of China. The estate spans 270 acres and includes 248 structures built in Ming and Qing architectural styles with traditional designs. It is surrounded by a 1,800-meter-long, over 10-meter-high fortress wall, six watchtowers, and three moats. The residence is laid out along central, eastern, and western axes, featuring three sets of deep courtyard complexes that are interconnected, forming a cohesive and uniquely styled architectural complex. The buildings are constructed with traditional materials such as brick, tile, wood, and lime, reflecting classical Chinese architectural features. The ridges of the roofs are adorned with brick carvings of lions, tigers, leopards, horses, and monkeys. The upturned eaves are tall and decorated with dragon and beast motifs pointing to the sky, creating an imposing grandeur.

　　The central house was built by Yuan Chongsan and features a decorative gatehouse with a carved plaque on the lintel reading “Purple Air Comes from the East.” It is divided into front, middle, and rear courtyards. The front courtyard has a three-room reception hall flanked by wing rooms on the east and west. The middle courtyard features a five-room mid-level building with three-room wing rooms on both sides. The total area is 2,800 square meters. The rooms are furnished with nanmu wood furniture, and the walls are hung with calligraphy and paintings by notable figures. The existing main hall and reception rooms are well preserved.

　　The eastern house was built by Yuan Shikai’s father, Yuan Baozhong, on the former site of the Shi family residence. It has a grand entrance gate guarded by a pair of five-foot-tall stone lions. To the left, a mother lion carries a cub on her back, while the male lion on the right looks sideways at the female with vivid expression. Above the red pillars on either side of the gate are carvings of “frogs playing with lotus.” The horizontal lintel above the gate consists of three panels: the left and right panels depict scenes from the operas “Five Judges in Council” and “The Princess’ Hairpin,” respectively, while the middle panel shows a farmer carrying a hoe. There are also “mounting stones” and “dismounting stones” on either side of the gate. The residence is divided into front, middle, and rear courtyards. The front courtyard has a central hall with wing rooms on both sides. The middle courtyard contains east and west wing towers with a three-room mid-level building in the center—Yuan Shikai was born in the western room of this mid-level building. The rear courtyard has three-room wing towers on both sides and a three-room main hall, covering a total area of 2,800 square meters. The mid-level building where Yuan Shikai was born remains intact.

　　The western house was built and inhabited by Yuan Shikai’s sixth brother, Yuan Shitong, and covers an area of 3,040 square meters. It has a grand entrance gate guarded by five-foot-tall stone lions, with “mounting stones” and “dismounting stones” on either side, and a pair of large red pillars. The lintel above the gate features carved lotus flowers and frogs playing in water. The east wall of the gate passage depicts “a carp jumping over the dragon gate,” while the west wall shows “the Eight Immortals crossing the sea.” Beyond the gate lies a central theater stage. Flanking the stage are wing rooms, a west wing room, and a north hall, all connected by corridors. The four corners of the theater stage have overhanging eaves extending more than three feet, decorated with carvings of bright lotus flowers, white plum blossoms, and various peonies. Some flowers extend down to the ground along the pillars. The roof of the theater is covered with glazed tiles. The front eaves stage and the screen door of the backstage consist of four doors, surrounded by continuous carvings of phoenixes, and the center features carvings of laughing arhats sitting cross-legged. Beyond the theater is a five-room main hall with six large red pillars under the front eaves, carved with coiling dragons and embroidered balls. The arched ceiling inside the hall hangs three “palace lanterns” and three “myriad-lamp lanterns.” The palace lanterns have six dragon-headed corners with hanging tassels. The “myriad-lamp lanterns” are about one meter in diameter, with trays holding 120 candles each. Each candle is covered with a white shade and a red flower, with colorful glass tassels hanging beneath. When lit, they create a dazzling and magnificent display. Behind the screen in the hall stands a nanmu-framed “full-length mirror” carved with Chinese characters and a design of cranes and pine trees symbolizing longevity. At both ends of the hall are symmetrically placed nanmu square tables and side cabinets, with valuable vases displayed on the cabinets. Next to the tables are two “curved-back grand chairs.” The walls are adorned with calligraphy and paintings. Inside the entrance of the hall, there is a white dragon jar with a red dragon on the east side and a white dragon jar with a blue dragon on the west side, both containing goldfish. Passing through the hall leads to the mid-level building courtyard, which has a five-room mid-level building and three-room wing rooms on both sides. A corridor with painted carvings connects the mid-level building with the wing rooms. Finally, there is the main hall courtyard, with a five-room main hall, two-room wing rooms on both sides, and a glass-covered corridor encircling the courtyard. Each room is furnished with nanmu furniture, and the walls are decorated with calligraphy and paintings. The existing structures include the five-room main hall, the three-room hall, and three rooms of the east wing, as well as six rooms of the west wing.

　　Address: Yuanzhai Village, Wangmingkou Town, 17 kilometers southeast of Xiangcheng City, Zhoukou

　　Type: Celebrity Former Residence

　　Recommended Visiting Time: 2–3 hours

　　Opening Hours:

　　8:30–17:00

　　Ticket Information:

　　Gate Price: 30.0 RMB

　　Yuan Shikai (1859~1916)　　Yuan Shikai (September 16, 1859 – June 6, 1916), courtesy name Weiting (also written Weiting), pseudonym Rong’an, was a Han Chinese from Xiangcheng, Henan. He was a prominent political figure in modern Chinese history. As a leader of the Beiyang warlords, he became the first President of the Republic of China following the Xinhai Revolution. During his tenure, he actively promoted industrial development, unified the currency system, and established modern judicial and educational systems. However, later influenced by constitutionalists such as Yang Du, he attempted to restore the imperial system and proclaim himself emperor but was ultimately overthrown. On September 16, 1859, Yuan Shikai was born into a family of generations of officials in Yuanzhai, Wangmingkou Town, Xiangcheng City, Henan Province. His ancestors were mostly local notables. The Yuan family... More+