The most worthwhile ancient building to visit in Shanxi - Li Family Mansion

Li Family Mansion is a courtyard of the wealthy Li family of Jin merchants, which was established during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. The entire building is a well-style wealth-gathering Siheyuan, which also incorporates Huizhou architectural style. The brick carvings, stone carvings, wood carvings and iron art decorations of the building vividly reflect the folk cultural characteristics of southern Shanxi. Because the representative of the family, Li Ziyong, once studied in the UK and married a British woman, some of the buildings have incorporated European "Gothic" architectural elements, thus reflecting the artistic characteristics of the integration of Chinese and Western cultures. It is a unique flower among the national characteristic dwellings. The Li family is the richest in southern Shanxi, rich but not arrogant, rich but not extravagant, rich but able to help the world. Every time there is a disaster, the Li family can help the victims with all their family wealth, and they are deeply loved by the people because they do good deeds. Generations have successively repaired virtues and done good deeds. The explanation mainly introduced us to the life experience of Li Ziyong. Li Ziyong, named Daohang, is the core figure of the 15th generation of the Li family with the word "Dao", and one of the main representatives of the Li family. Li Ziyong studied Chinese studies when he was young, and then studied textile in the UK. After returning to China, he took over the family business, founded industries to help the weak and enrich the people, and also founded education and participated in politics. He personally experienced the history of the Li family from prosperity to decline, and also witnessed the development of Chinese national industry and commerce. I specifically studied that Li Ziyong married five wives in his life, In 1899, he married Wang, and in 1900, Wang died after giving birth to a daughter. In 1901, he married Dantai, and in 1904, Dantai voluntarily left because she had no offspring. In 1907, Li Ziyong went to study in the UK, and in 1911, he married a British woman, Mai. In 1914, he returned to China with Mai, and in 1918, Mai died. In 1926, Dantai died of illness and he married Hu. In 1946, Hu died of illness, and in 1947, he married Wang. In 1965, Li Ziyong died of illness at the age of 86. This life experience is really rich and full of stories. What impressed me most about the entire mansion was the courtyard he built for his "foreign daughter-in-law". At that time, everyone else lived in cave dwellings, but he built a new house for Mai and repaired Gothic windows and iron beds. It was true love. There is also a "anti-theft door" with six locks, which is very powerful. The various small mechanisms are really wonderful, and the big characters written on the wall and then erased are also a witness to history.