Wang Family Courtyard

Traveling inside China, I found this ancient world heritage place called Wang Family Compound, it is a lively area surrounded by walls, with a mini city inside, from shops to restaurants, temples and museums. The traditional architecture and the many activities to do were really great!! #merrychristmas

Wang Family Courtyard is located in Jingsheng Town, Lingshi County, Jinzhong, Shanxi, built by the Jingsheng Wang family over the course of more than 300 years during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It covers a total area of 250,000 square meters, with five lanes, six forts, and one street, and its scale indeed qualifies it as a folk Forbidden City. Wang Family Courtyard is divided into two parts 🔸 The Gaojiaya building complex and the Hongmenbao building complex. 🔸 Gaojiaya was built by two brothers of the seventeenth generation of the Jingsheng Wang family, consisting of 35 courtyards, each with both independent and shared courtyards, interconnected by 65 doors, which is very interesting. 🔸 Hongmenbao is built against the mountain, resembling a fortress, with one main lane and three cross lanes in the middle, and four layers of courtyards arranged symmetrically from low to high on the left and right, forming a neat 'Wang' character shape. The stone carvings, wood carvings, and brick carvings of Wang Family Courtyard are very exquisite, and a lot of thought has been put into them, incorporating ancestral teachings, family instructions, wishes, and blessings into every corner of the courtyard, with each image having a meaning and auspicious wishes, constantly reminding the Wang family descendants to strive for improvement. Wang Family Courtyard reveals the strictness and rules of a wealthy household, with order among the young and old, and distinction between men and women; the master lives in the main house, children in the side houses; with front halls and back bedrooms, and plaques over the doors, couplets in the halls. However, the layout and architecture of each courtyard are very similar, and walking inside is like being in a maze. Wang Family Courtyard Location: Wang Family Courtyard, Jingsheng Town, Lingshi County, Jinzhong, Shanxi Opening hours: Opens at 8:00, and entry stops at 17:40 🎫 Ticket price: Peak season (April–October) 55 RMB/person ; Off-season (November–March) 35 RMB/person ; 📸 Photography tips 🔹 The best photo spot is the Dingjia Garden 🔹 From the Dingjia Garden, you can climb up the Hongmenbao city wall for a classic shot of the Wang Family Courtyard, and also capture the Gaojiaya building complex 🔹 Near the Chongningbao side, the rooftop position of Hongmenbao is a good spot for photos

Wang is a surname, a surname is half a country; Home is a courtyard, a courtyard is half a city. Wang's Grand Courtyard, located in the historic and cultural town of Jingsheng, was built by the Jingsheng Wang family over more than 300 years during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is a fully enclosed castle-style luxury residence, including five alleys, six forts, and one street, with a total area of 250,000 square meters, which is 100,000 square meters larger than the Forbidden City. The Hongmenbao architectural complex is both a fort and a city, built against the mountain, arranged in four layers of courtyards from low to high, symmetrical on the left and right, with a main thoroughfare in the middle, forming a regular 'Wang' character shape, and also a hidden 'dragon' shape. The 88 courtyards within the fort each have their own characteristics, none of which are identical. Wang's Grand Courtyard is famous for the 'three carvings': wood carving, stone carving, and brick carving, all displayed in one courtyard, with a number and craftsmanship that are rare in the world

Transportation: Get to Lingshi East Station. Lingshi East Station is the closest to Wang's Grand Courtyard, and after arriving at Wang's Grand Courtyard station, it's just a five to six hundred meters walk. Dining: There are many restaurants right where the bus stops, which is a residential area, and there are no food sales inside Wang's Grand Courtyard as it is purely a scenic area! Sightseeing: It is highly recommended to hire a guide, which costs about 120 yuan. The experience of the Wang brothers' residences is completely different after the explanation. The essence of the explanation also lies in the residences of the Wang brothers. Moreover, the architectural beauty, whether in the grand scheme or the details, is mesmerizing. Even the casual stone carvings and wood carvings have their stories and meanings. The Wang family has a high level of family education and places great importance on the education of their children. The Wang family started with selling tofu and built a courtyard larger than the Forbidden City, using only the interest from their savings. Tickets: In the off-season, the ticket is 30 yuan per person. There is no need to go to Wang's Manor, as it has no significant relation other than the name 'Wang'. The guide's explanation lasts about 1 hour, and if you wander around by yourself, you can control the time to be around 3 hours.

⛩ Located 12 kilometers east of Lingshi County in Jingsheng Town, Wang's Grand Courtyard stands as a piece of art in the river of history, perfectly showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship and majestic grandeur of ancient Chinese residential architecture. The Wang family meticulously crafted it during the Qing Dynasty's Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, and Jiaqing periods. The entire courtyard is laid out in the shapes of the five auspicious beasts: 'dragon,' 'phoenix,' 'turtle,' 'scales,' and 'tiger,' presenting the characteristics of 'five lanes,' 'five forts,' and 'five ancestral halls,' leaving a profound impression on visitors. 🕍 The architectural site selection of Wang's Grand Courtyard is ingenious, situated high and overlooking, embracing the shade and the sun. It occupies the loess highlands on the north slope of Jingsheng Village, shielding from the north wind and basking in the sunlight, with natural drainage ditches ensuring water supply, making it a harmonious habitat. Here, one can experience the beauty of the changing seasons, and from a high vantage point, the fields, rivers, mountains, and snow-covered peaks form natural landscape paintings that refresh the spirit. 🏛 Wang's Grand Courtyard was built over more than three hundred years during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The entire complex consists of five lanes, six forts, and one street, covering an area of 250,000 square meters, which is 100,000 square kilometers larger than the Forbidden City, making it the largest private residence in China, known as the 'Folk Forbidden City.' ✅ Three Highlights of Wang's Grand Courtyard Imperial Edict ✨ This is an imperial edict issued to the Wang family during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, preserved by generations of the Wang family and later voluntarily donated. This edict is not only a precious material relic left by the Wang family's ancestors but also a reference for studying the history of the Qing Dynasty, the documentation system, the official system, calligraphy, knitting, and other aspects of evolution and development. Thousand-Worker Bed ✨ The 'Thousand-Worker Bed' displayed in the 'bridal chamber' of the sturdy residence's backyard uses various decorative techniques such as carving, inlaying, painting, and drawing. It primarily features the festive red color, paired with the vivid Chinese red and the rich gold lacquer, showcasing its unique elegance as a 'wedding bed.' The Complete Map of the Great Qing's Eternal Unification ✨ The 'Complete Map of the Great Qing's Eternal Unification' displayed in the Ningrui Residence's hall is a printed edition, but it is a valuable scientific material for studying the historical changes of China's territory and administrative regions. ✅ For example, the unicorn at the entrance symbolizes wealth, the steps on both sides of the entrance must be symmetrical, the crane and turtle represent longevity, the monkeys on the stone pillars represent generations of nobility, and there are too many, too detailed, this is the style of Qing Dynasty architecture.

The Wang Family Compound is located 12 kilometers east of Lingshi County in Shanxi Province, in the historic and cultural town of Jingsheng. The Wang Family Compound was built by the Jingsheng Wang family over the course of more than 300 years during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It includes five alleys, six fortresses, and one street, covering a total area of 250,000 square meters, and is a museum of architectural art with traditional cultural characteristics. The architectural layout of the Wang Family Compound inherits the courtyard style of the front hall and rear sleeping quarters formed during the Western Zhou Dynasty in China. It provides ample space for external interactions while satisfying the need for internal privacy, ensuring a hierarchy of respect and order among the noble and humble, the old and young, and distinguishing between the inner and outer, men and women. It also has a complete set of living functions, fully reflecting the majesty of the official family and the orderly nature of the clan and ritual system. The Gaojiaya architectural complex consists of 35 courtyards and 342 rooms. The main courtyards, the Dunhou Residence and Ningrui Residence, are both three-entry quadrangle courtyards. In addition to the ancestral halls and embroidered buildings on both sides, each courtyard has its own kitchen yard, family schoolyard, and shares a common academy, flower yard, servant yard, and enclosed yard. The surrounding fortress walls are tightly enclosed, with four gates strategically placed. The courtyards are interconnected like a string of pearls, with as many as 65 doors that allow access in all directions, yet each maintains its own unique character. The Hongmenbao architectural complex is both a fortress and a city, built against the mountain. Arranged in four layers of courtyards from low to high, it is symmetrically laid out with a main thoroughfare in the middle, forming a very regular 'king' character shape. It also implies the shape of a 'dragon'. The 88 courtyards within the fortress each have their own unique characteristics, with no two being identical.

Dear travel enthusiasts, today I will take you into a frozen historical scroll, which is the Wang Family Compound located in Jingsheng Town, Lingshi County, Shanxi Province. This ancient architectural complex, known as the 'Number One Dwelling in China', with its grand scale, exquisite carving art, and profound cultural heritage, is undoubtedly a stop you can't miss on your trip to Shanxi. Attraction Introduction: The Wang Family Compound was founded in the Ming Dynasty and expanded over more than 300 years to cover a total area of 250,000 square meters. It consists of two major architectural complexes, Gaojiaya Fort and Hongmen Fort, with a total of 123 courtyards and 1,118 rooms, resembling a miniature ancient city. Every brick and tile, every carved beam and painted rafter here is filled with the architectural wisdom and the breath of life from the Ming and Qing dynasties, making you feel as if you have traveled back to that prosperous era. Itinerary: It is recommended that you arrive at the Wang Family Compound around 9 am. First, explore the majestic Hongmen Fort and uncover the family's rise and fall story behind it; then stroll through the intricately detailed Gaojiaya Fort, admiring its unique wood, brick, and stone carving art. In the afternoon, you can take a break in the teahouse within the compound, savoring a cup of fragrant jasmine tea, and experiencing the tranquil and simple taste of life. In the evening, it's worth climbing up to the viewing platform to overlook the entire compound's panorama, where the Wang Family Compound under the setting sun appears even more ancient and solemn. Gourmet Experience: Don't forget to taste the local specialties after your visit. Shanxi's noodles are world-famous, and the restaurants near the Wang Family Compound offer authentic knife-cut noodles, tick-tipped noodles, and more, with a chewy texture and rich toppings. In addition, there are special Jinan steamed buns, Pingyao beef, and fragrant Fen liquor, all of which will let your taste buds fully enjoy the flavors of Shanxi. Transportation Tips: The Wang Family Compound is about 130 kilometers away from Taiyuan Wusu International Airport, only about a 2-hour drive by car; if taking the train, you can first go to Jiexiu Railway Station, then transfer to a bus or taxi to get there. Additionally, major travel agencies and the Ctrip platform offer one-day or multi-day tour routes from Taiyuan city center, which are convenient and quick, making your journey more worry-free. In summary, the Wang Family Compound is not only a treasure showcasing ancient Chinese architectural art but also an ideal place to experience traditional culture and taste the charm of history. We look forward to your trip to Shanxi, where you will gain a unique memory that transcends time and space!

The Forbidden City is known for the majesty of the royal family, while the Wang residence is known for the prominence of the Shanxi merchants. The Wang Family Grand Courtyard, which started with selling tofu, was built by the Wang family over 300 years during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It includes five lanes, six forts, and one street, covering a total area of 250,000 square meters, with thousands of rooms. Courtyards connect to courtyards, and houses connect to houses. It is even larger than the Forbidden City and is rightfully called the 'Number One Residence of Chinese Folk Houses'. 🎫Ticket: 50 RMB/person The Wang Family Grand Courtyard only sells joint tickets, which include: Wang Family Grand Courtyard➕Wang Family Estate➕Hongya Canyon➕Gypsum Mountain ⌚Opening hours Wang Family Grand Courtyard: 8:30-16:50 Wang Family Estate: 8:00-16:30 Hongya Canyon: 8:00-16:50 Gypsum Mountain Scenic Area: 8:30-16:00 🌈Tour route Enter through Shilu Fort and exit through Hengzhen Fort, from east to west. When you reach Hengzhen Fort, you can go from low to high to the garden, then climb the surrounding wall to overlook the entire complex, and finally descend along the wall. 🌟Core visiting areas Gaojia Cliff Buildings (Shilu Fort) and Hongmen Fort Buildings (Hengzhen Fort), with a stone bridge connecting the two forts in the middle. ✅Shilu Fort is an official residence, built by the luxurious mansion of the brothers Wang Rucheng and Wang Rucong, who were officials of the fourth and fifth rank respectively, complete with ancestral halls, embroidered buildings, kitchen courtyards, school courtyards, servant courtyards, family courtyards, and flower courtyards, all exquisitely decorated. ✅Hengzhen Fort is a civilian residence, equivalent to a large community for the Wang family. The main alley in the middle and three horizontal alleys form a regular 'Wang' character. The fort has 88 courtyards with simpler decorations. 💟3 major highlights 1️⃣Rigorous layout Layered buildings and courtyards, front halls and rear bedrooms, each layout reveals a hierarchy of respect and order, and a distinction between the inside and outside. In Shilu Fort, the younger brother Wang Rucheng's residence has a wider gate tower due to his higher official rank, but it is not as tall as his brother's. 2️⃣Three-carving art Brick carving, wood carving, and stone carving are rich in themes and auspicious meanings. Taking stone carving as an example, there are carvings representing the 'Twenty-four Filial Exemplars' indicating that filial piety is the most important virtue, seahorses among clouds symbolizing a journey of thousands of miles, bamboo joint carvings on door frames suggesting rising step by step, and stone statues of a large monkey carrying a small monkey symbolizing generations of nobility. 3️⃣Couplets and plaques There are couplets in the halls and plaques on the doors. The number of couplets and plaques and the depth of their content are unique in the culture of Shanxi merchants. One of the plaques bears the four characters '规圆矩方' (circular rules and square norms), with an extra dot under the character '矩' (norm), implying that a little more discipline leads to fewer troubles. 📣Explanation Be sure to listen to the explanations, otherwise, it will be difficult to deeply understand the details and connotations. The guide fee is 120 RMB, and you can join a group. Alternatively, a 30 RMB electronic guide is recommended, with a 100 RMB deposit returned at the exit. It has automatic induction, providing explanations automatically when you reach the corresponding tour area, and also offers tour route suggestions.

🏨 Wang Family Courtyard 🚉Transportation Guide: Departing from Taiyuan, take the train from Taiyuan South to Lingshi East Station. Remember, Lingshi East Station is the closest to Wang Family Courtyard (about fifteen minutes by Lingshi No. 7 bus) Once you arrive at Wang Family Courtyard Station, it's just a five to six hundred meters walk, very close. If you reach Lingshi Station, also take the Lingshi No. 7 bus, it takes about 40 minutes to get to Wang Family Courtyard Station. 🍽Dining Recommendations: There are many restaurants where the bus stops, which is considered a residential area. Inside the Wang Family Courtyard, which is purely a scenic area, there's no food for sale! 📝Note tips: As soon as you enter the main gate, on the left hand side there is a small hut where you can ask for a tour guide, 120r for a guide (you can join with many people). It's essential to hire a guide, or at least join a group with one, especially for the residences of the two Wang brothers. After listening to the explanations, the experience is completely different. The essence of the explanation is also the residences of the Wang brothers. ❤Recommended Reason: The biggest impression is the difficulty of life for women during the Qing Dynasty; not stepping out of the main gate or the second gate meant being trapped in such a small courtyard (no matter how exquisite it is) Sons live on the first floor, daughters on the second floor (also called the Embroidery Building). Thirteen years old going up to the Embroidery Building, fourteen cutting hair, fifteen getting married (it's quite poignant) 🌟Highlights: Moreover, the architectural beauty, both in the grand scheme and the details, is captivating. The stone carvings and wood carvings all have stories and meanings. The Wang family had a high level of education and placed great importance on the education of their children! The Wang family started with selling tofu and built a courtyard larger than the Forbidden City, using only the interest from their savings ('In all trades, a master emerges'). 💰Average Cost: 30r per person in the off-season 👍Most Recommended: The best photography spot is the stairs going up on the right-hand side facing the Dingjia Garden, taking photos with Dingjia Garden as the backdrop. There's no need to go to Wang Family Manor; aside from the name 'Wang,' there's not much connection. The tour guide's explanation takes about 1h, and you can control your own wandering time to be about 3h, which is quite sufficient. Although it's said to be larger than the Forbidden City, the area we visited is actually not that large. Many courtyards are not open due to similar layouts, so 3h is more than enough.

Wang's Grand Courtyard was built over more than three hundred years during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The entire complex consists of five alleys, six fortresses, and one street, covering an area of 250,000 square meters, which is 100,000 square kilometers larger than the Forbidden City, making it the largest private residence in China, known as the 'Folk Forbidden City'. So it's quite tiring to visit, but definitely worth it! With limited time, I decided to visit Wang's Grand Courtyard! 🌟 Three Highlights of Wang's Grand Courtyard 1️⃣ The Imperial Edict This is an imperial edict issued to the Wang family during the reign of Emperor Jiaqing, preserved by generations of the Wang family and later voluntarily donated. This edict is not only a precious physical document left by the Wang family's ancestors, but also a reference for studying the history of the Qing dynasty, the documentation system, the bureaucracy, calligraphy, knitting, and their evolution and development. 2️⃣ The Thousand-Worker Bed The 'Thousand-Worker Bed' displayed in the 'bridal chamber' of the Dunhou Mansion's backyard uses various decorative techniques such as carving, inlaying, painting, and drawing. It features red as the main color to reflect the festive atmosphere, paired with the vibrant Chinese red and the rich gold lacquer, showcasing its unique elegance as a 'wedding bed'. 3️⃣ The Complete Map of the Great Qing's Eternal Unification The 'Complete Map of the Great Qing's Eternal Unification' displayed in the Ningrui Residence's hall is a printed edition, but it is a valuable scientific document for studying the historical changes of China's territory and administrative regions. History has witnessed its beginnings, development, and decline. In the vast courtyard, beyond the visible prosperity and grandeur, one begins to ponder and explore the reasons for the decline of Wang's Grand Courtyard, as well as how to prevent such events from happening to ourselves. ✅ The main reasons for the decline of Wang's Grand Courtyard are: 1️⃣ The Wang family began to decline after the Daoguang era of the Qing dynasty, mainly due to the lack of ambition among the descendants and increasing extravagance. The descendants of the Wang family, due to opium and the avoidance of war, sold their vast family business to outsiders and fled to Sichuan with substantial wealth (the spiritual decline due to opium addiction). 2️⃣ The grand scale, huge cost, and lavishness of Wang's Grand Courtyard inevitably attracted excessive restrictions from the imperial court. The court's increasing exploitation of the Shanxi merchants made it difficult for the Wang family to escape misfortune (restrictions caused by excessive luxury). 3️⃣ The Wang family's ideal of achieving success through the imperial examinations and fundamentally growing their business led to their decline (forgetting the core competitiveness that initially led to their wealth). Therefore, only by choosing the right direction, keeping up with the times, adhering to the original intention, living frugally, keeping a low profile, practicing self-discipline, and working diligently can wealth be passed down from generation to generation, and the family prosper! ✅ When visiting, it is essential to hire a guide. Without a guide, it's like a dog looking at the stars, wandering from room to room without understanding the significance of Wang's Grand Courtyard, only recognizing it as a Qing dynasty architectural style. However, with a guide, you will understand how meticulous and meaningful the Qing dynasty architecture of Wang's Grand Courtyard is. The architectural style is detailed in every aspect, from the front hall to the back bedroom, with a courtyard style that ensures privacy and distinguishes between the noble and the humble. The thresholds, carvings, stone piers, and brick carvings of the courtyard all have unique meanings, and every detail is breathtaking. ✅ For example, the kirin at the entrance symbolizes wealth, the steps on both sides of the entrance must be symmetrical, the crane and turtle represent longevity, and the monkeys on the stone pillars represent generations of nobility. There are too many details; this is the style of architecture during the Qing dynasty, while the adjacent Ming dynasty architecture is much simpler without so many details. As for why, that's something for the guide to explain in detail.

🏰 Visit the Wang Family Grand Courtyard, the Soul of Jin Merchants 🏰 In the ancient land of Shanxi, there is a mysterious corner known as the 'civilian Forbidden City' - the Wang Family Grand Courtyard. This is not just a massive residential complex, but also a witness to the glorious history of Jin merchants. 🌟 Courtyard Wonders: Stepping through the gates of the Wang Family Grand Courtyard is like traveling through a time tunnel, entering the ancient and splendid Jin merchant family. The vast triple-entry quadrangle courtyards, the towering ancestral halls, and the exquisite embroidered buildings, every corner reveals traces of history. From a high vantage point, the entire courtyard is layered and well-arranged, leaving one in awe. 🏡 Cultural Heritage: The Wang Family Grand Courtyard is not only spectacular in architecture but also embodies the family virtues of 'being round and square, kind to others'. Each courtyard has its unique features, such as the ancestral hall, family school, and academy, showcasing the profound connotations of Jin merchant culture. Travel Tips: Location: Navigate to the Wang Family Grand Courtyard, a 2-hour drive from Taiyuan, and a 30-minute drive from the ancient city of Pingyao. Tickets: Off-season 35 RMB/person, peak season 55 RMB/person. Visiting Time: It takes about 2-3 hours to visit, suitable for a half-day tour. 🚗 Transportation Advice: Self-driving is the most convenient way, with a 2-hour drive from Taiyuan to the Wang Family Grand Courtyard, and only 30 minutes from the ancient city of Pingyao. 💡 Suggestions: Book tickets through Ctrip for convenience and speed. Keep quiet during the visit to appreciate the family culture of Jin merchants. 🍽️ Food Recommendations: After touring, you can taste local delicacies in the surrounding area and experience the unique flavor of Shanxi. Visiting the Wang Family Grand Courtyard is like traveling through time and space, experiencing the prosperity and vicissitudes of Jin merchants. This civilian Forbidden City is a part of Shanxi's history and a treasure of ancient Chinese culture. Come and appreciate this family epic and feel the profound charm of history! 🏰

Dear friends, have you ever longed to travel through time and experience the charm of ancient life? Then, let me lift the veil of mystery off the Wang Family Grand Courtyard in Shanxi and take you on a tour of historical charm. The Wang Family Grand Courtyard, this ancient residence with a history of hundreds of years, has witnessed countless changes. It is like a living history textbook, allowing us to feel the grandeur and ingenuity of ancient times up close. Here you will find exquisite brick carvings, wood carvings, and stone carvings; here you will see ancient courtyards, pavilions, and halls; here you will discover rich historical stories and cultural heritage... Whether you appreciate the beauty of ancient architecture, or are keen on exploring historical culture, or even if you enjoy photography, the Wang Family Grand Courtyard will satisfy you. Here, you can stroll through the ancient courtyards, feeling the tranquility and harmony; here, you can admire the beautiful carvings, feeling the artistry and charm; here, you can listen to the stories of history, feeling the thrill of time travel. The Wang Family Grand Courtyard, like a wise sage who has experienced the vicissitudes of life, silently tells the stories of history. With its simplicity and heritage, it attracts countless people who love history. Come, friends, let us step into the Wang Family Grand Courtyard together, to feel the charm of history, to experience the life of time travel. Here, you will discover a new self, one who loves history and culture even more. The Wang Family Grand Courtyard, a visit you will remember for a lifetime. Let us look forward to that wonderful journey through history.