Luzhai Buildings

There is a saying about the Lu residence, 'The Forbidden City in the north, the Lu residence in the south.' Walking through one gate after another, you are immediately struck by the profound sense of history. One can't help but imagine the various scenes of the Lu family's life here, each place intriguing. I used to think that grand mansions in Jiangnan were all about luxury and grandeur, but after seeing the Lu residence, I realized that a mansion can also be elegant and understated. Most people who go to Dongyang are heading for Hengdian, yet this real ancient residence, the Lu residence, is rarely mentioned. I happened to pass by Dongyang and saw the sign for the Lu residence, only after searching did I realize it's a hidden gem of an attraction. Not many people on weekdays, and there is parking available near the visitor center. The Lu residence belongs to a long-renowned group of ancient buildings in the Jiangnan region. Along the axes of the Suyong Hall and the Shude Hall, there are six groups of buildings including the Fangbo Mansion, the Zhushi Mansion, the Dafu Mansion, the Shijinshi Mansion, the Wutai Hall, and the Longwei Hall, stretching over 300 meters in depth and covering more than 500 acres. The architectural value of the Lu residence is reflected in its nine successive halls, similar to the Forbidden City, and its exquisite wood carving craftsmanship. Must-see: 1. The treasure of the residence, the pearl lamp, is said to weigh 240 jin (about 120 kg), and the craftsmanship is lost and easily damaged, so the original is exhibited only once every four years. Exceptionally gorgeous. 2. The Nine Lions Playing with a Ball on three beams. Lifelike and very dynamic in carving. 3. The 'hooked joint' structure used between the front hall and the main hall of the Suyong Hall. Address: No. 2, Luzhai Street, Dongyang City Ticket price: 65 yuan (I used the Jinhua 99 yuan annual pass), 58 yuan for online ticket purchase the day before.

🍀 The Lu Residence is located in Luzhai Village, Dongyang, Zhejiang, the dwelling place of the Dongyang Lu family clan, and also the most completely preserved ancient Ming and Qing architectural complex in the south of the Yangtze River. It was listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit in 1988. Navigation to Luzhai Scenic Area, Dongyang City, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province 🎫 Ticket price: 58 yuan. ⏱ Opening hours: 8:30-16:30. 🅿️ There is a large paid parking lot right next to the scenic area. 📷 Sightseeing 1. Dongyang Wood Carving. Various forms of Dongyang wood carving art are displayed, represented by the 'Nine Lions Playing with a Ball' triple-beam structure. 2. Palace Lanterns. More than three hundred palace lanterns made of wood carving, bamboo silk, colored glaze, and colored beads, all precious relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties. 3. Ancient Architectural Complex. Centered around the Lu family ancestral hall, with the three halls of Fu Jing, Su Yong, and Shu De standing tall. The Su Yong Hall is the main axis of the Lu Residence architectural complex, with thousands of rooms. The beautifully carved ceilings, door and window lattices, partitions, exquisite stone and brick carvings, and the uniquely styled horse-head wall architecture all showcase Dongyang's profound cultural heritage as the 'hometown of a hundred trades'. 4. Three Stone Arches. Located at the entrance of the scenic area, next to the old street

As people's living standards improve, the festive atmosphere of the New Year has become increasingly subdued. To truly experience the ambiance of the holiday season, one might have to visit malls and scenic spots. Dongyang Luzhai was newly recognized as a national 4A-level scenic spot at the end of 2023. With the Spring Festival approaching, large red lanterns are hung high, and a few red plum trees against the white walls tell the lively stories of the people. The Luzhai scenic area includes two parts: the ancient architectural complex and the intangible cultural heritage district. The former is a national-level cultural relics protection unit, while the latter is a provincial-level traditional residential culture inheritance and ecological protection zone. The intangible cultural heritage district features white walls, black tiles, small bridges, and flowing water, exuding the rich architectural culture of Dongyang. 📍Detailed address: Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province, Luzhai Intangible Cultural Heritage District Ticket price: Free ⏳Time reference: 2 hours

Dongyang Luzhai, with three peaks standing to the south and Yaxi River encircling it, is known for its tradition of poetry and propriety, and a lineage of scholarly achievements, earning it the reputation of 'the prestigious clan of Wuyi'. From the Ming to the Qing dynasty, the Lu family built many grand mansions, known as the 'Folk Forbidden City'. The most well-preserved is the Suyong Hall built during the Ming dynasty, also known as 'the Forbidden City in the north, Suyong in the south', which is a national key cultural relics protection unit. In December 2023, Dongyang Luzhai was rated as a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Thus, the small town of Dongyang now boasts one 5A-level (Hengdian World Studios) and three 4A-level (China Wood Carving City, Huayuan Village, Luzhai) tourist attractions. Between the Luzhai ancient architectural complex and the Luzhai intangible cultural heritage district, there is a pedestrian street. Because the ancient architectural complex charges an entrance fee of 65 yuan, many tourists often prefer this pedestrian street. This is an antique-style street called 'Luzhai Old Street'. The street is paved with cobblestones and flanked by antique-style buildings, with shops mainly selling wood and bamboo carvings and antiques. Compared to some bustling old streets, Luzhai Old Street appears more refreshing and elegant. 'The archways of Luzhai, the ancestral halls of Lizhai.' The most eye-catching feature of the 'Old Street' are probably the several exquisite and towering archways. Behind each archway, there is a proud story. 📍Detailed address: Luzhai Scenic Area, Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province Ticket price: Free

It's true that 'the North has the Forbidden City, the South has the Lu Residence' is not an overstatement. 🏮 After visiting the Lu Residence, Zheng Xinmiao, the director of the Palace Museum, said: The Lu Residence is the folk Forbidden City of the south. With its grey tiles and white walls, cobblestone pavements, and exquisite wood carvings, it is a collection of fine arts. When I first entered this southern Forbidden City, I was deeply shocked. 🏠 The treasure of the Lu Residence is a ram's horn lantern over 4 meters tall, the largest hall lantern in the world. What is on display now is a replica, and the real ram's horn lantern is displayed every leap year or during major events. This year happens to be a leap year, so friends in the vicinity, remember to visit during the Spring Festival~ 📍 Lu Residence in Dongyang City, Jinhua, Zhejiang. Friends from other places can take the high-speed train to Dongyang North Station or Yiwu Station, and the plane can arrive at Yiwu Airport. ❤️ Strolling through this Ming and Qing dynasty residence, admiring the Dongyang wood carvings, surrounded by the natural scent of wood, evokes old memories. The whole person becomes gentle and peaceful, which is probably the unique charm of the scent of wood. If you can't come to experience it in person, the scented candle of Fu Sheng Liu Ji's covered-bowl tea can give you the same experience. The Chinese covered-bowl shape makes the process of lighting the scented candle as comfortable as drinking tea. The black 'Ebony Buddha Hall', with a black tea woody note. After lighting, it is the cool and distant scent of a temple. As if slowly ascending the steps, the temple emerges from the mist, the light scent of frankincense softens the hardness of the wood, adding a touch of intriguing gentleness. The red 'Redwood Qitan', with a sandalwood Ganoderma note. An Eastern dream, sandalwood is spirited. The fragrance of Ganoderma mixed with sandalwood, gently embraced by the trees with each breath, empties the self in the Eastern Zen. Little Tips: 1⃣️ The Lu Residence's beaded lamps are surrounded by railings, which I removed in post-production. 2⃣️ The Lu Residence is all wooden structures, so open flames are not allowed. My scented candle lighting shots were taken outside or with flames added in post-production. 3⃣️ The beautiful archway in the first picture is outside the Lu Residence, and you can take pictures without entering the scenic area.

In Chapter 53 of 'Dream of the Red Chamber', the Rongguo Mansion holds a night banquet during the Lantern Festival, where the dazzling array of decorations captivates all who see them, especially the lanterns, which are numerous and varied. Among them, a pair of combined hall lanterns known as the 'Triple Union and Quintuple Cluster Glass Hibiscus Tassel Lanterns' are particularly stunning. In the Lu Residence of Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province, hangs a set of 'Treasure Cover Chain-linked Triple Union and Septuple Cluster Colored Tassel Ram's Horn Lanterns' that surpass even the grand hall lanterns described in 'Dream of the Red Chamber'. They are the largest hall lanterns in the world and have a history of over 100 years. The residence has two hall lanterns in total, one authentic and one replica. The authentic one is only hung during major festivals in leap years and is returned to a special lamp room for preservation after the event. The authentic lantern is not lit all day when displayed; it is turned off after being lit for a while to protect the lifespan of the cultural relic. Regarding the lighting time: The specific lighting times are managed by the security uncle there (the uncle is very easy to talk to, and if you want to light the lantern, you can directly approach him). I went in the morning, and the lanterns were lit twice around 10 am and 12 pm, with each session lasting about an hour. The replica is on display all year round (P7), and while it is just as impressive as the authentic one, it is not lit in principle (see the previous suggestion). 'North has the Forbidden City, south has the Lu Residence' Additionally, the Lu Residence is a national key cultural relics protection unit. Its Ming and Qing residential architecture is quite grand and well-preserved. On the day I visited, it had just rained, and the sky was somewhat overcast. Due to the sparse number of tourists, the vast mansion had a sense of immediacy reminiscent of the movie 'Raise the Red Lantern', evoking a deep sense of 'How deep is the courtyard?'

| This is probably the ultimate aesthetic in our ancestors' bones that never dies. Lu's House is located in the urban area of Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province, and was listed as the third batch of cultural protection units in 1988. The building complex was built in the Southern Song Dynasty, and the Lu family gradually expanded during its prosperity, forming a large-scale mansion. However, due to wars, floods and other impacts, some buildings and archways no longer exist. - But the Lu's House Suyong Hall is currently well preserved. It was built in the Ming Dynasty and has a grand courtyard with five openings and nine depths, reaching 320 meters deep. Because the overall construction time spans the Ming and Qing Dynasties, you can see the differences between the two generations in architectural details. By the Qing Dynasty, all kinds of details were more complicated and exquisite. Lu's House Suyong Hall combines Dongyang wood carving, stone carving, palace lanterns and other traditional crafts, and was listed as the third batch of cultural protection units in 1988. It is currently open to the public as a scenic spot. Dongyang is the hometown of wood carving and architecture. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, more than 400 Dongyang wood carving craftsmen went to the Forbidden City in Beijing to build dragon chairs, palace lanterns, and decorations for the emperor at that time. By the Republic of China, there were 80,000 Dongyang people doing construction abroad, and you can catch a glimpse of these craftsmen's skills in Lu's House. - P1: The hall lamp in the Shude Hall was destroyed, and only the sheepskin lamp, the wire lamp frame and the six iron arms are left. The exhibits are restored. P2-7: Various bull leg decorations, made by Dongyang carpenters. P8: Civilian decoration P9: Plaque P10: The Baogai Suoluo Lian Sanju Qicai Sui Sheep Horn Lamp, which has a history of more than a hundred years, has won the Guinness Record. P11: A relatively small bead lamp P12-15: White walls and green tiles horse head wall, this style is common in the central Zhejiang to Huangshan area. P16: "Fang Bo", a word very familiar to Hangzhou people, was a respectful title for the governor in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. P17: The west gate reached by navigation. 📌TIPs： 1. Business hours: 8:30-16:30 2. Self-driving navigation: Dongyang Lu's House Scenic Area, with parking spaces. It is 30 minutes from Hengdian, 40 minutes from Yiwu, and 2 hours from Hangzhou. 3. Public transportation: Yiwu High-speed Railway Station, transfer to light rail to Dongyang Renmin Road Station; Hengdian Scenic Area, take the light rail from Ming and Qing Palace Station. 4. Five openings and nine depths, a large number of rooms, it is recommended to follow the "tour route" sign for the tour. 5. Play time: 1-1.5 hours. 6. There is a non-heritage block around Suyong Hall, with some teahouses, cafes and other businesses, but there are a few dangerous houses in the old houses of the original residents next to it. (You won't encounter it if you follow the sign, and measures have been taken + warning signs) 🔍Overall, it is recommended to come here to see the architecture and wood carving, but friends who are far away do not need to make a special trip, it is recommended to plan with Hengdian Scenic Area, Yiwu, other wood carving halls (Li's House, Ma Shangqiao, Shi Jiazhuang Notes will be updated later)

From January 28 to March 28, 2024, the second 'Dongyang is originally a beautiful landscape - National Contemporary Landscape Painting Masters Invitation Exhibition' was held in Dongyang City Art Museum. 'Dongyang is originally a beautiful landscape, not to mention once hidden Hou', from the Tang Dynasty 'poetry giant' Liu Yuxi's 'Answer Dongyang Yu Ling Han Bi Ting Tu Shi'. This exhibition brings together 100 national landscape painting masters, with Liu Yuxi's poem 'Han Bi Ting' as the theme, vividly presenting the beautiful scenery of Dongyang's 'singing mountains and painting water' through the wonderful brushwork. Dongyang Art Museum, also known as Lu Fusheng Art Museum, is an art museum named after Mr. Lu Fusheng, the president of Shanghai Calligraphy and Painting Publishing House and a painter from Dongyang. The museum is located in the national 4A scenic spot Lu's house, with a superior geographical location and a quiet environment. It has three exhibition halls of various specifications, with an exhibition area of about 2000 square meters. It is a modern art museum integrating exhibition, collection research, cultural exchange, and public teaching activities. 📍Detailed address: No. 8 Wood Carving Lane, Lu's House Intangible Cultural Heritage Block, Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 Closed on Monday Ticket price: Free

Dongyang Ancient Town - "Folk Forbidden City" Lu's house Dongyang Lu's house, known as the "Folk Forbidden City", has a history of 600 years Apart from Hengdian, there is a place where you can check in for tourism There are several places in Lu's house where you can take pictures for free You can experience the traditional charm of intangible cultural heritage architecture No matter spring, summer, autumn or winter, it's easy to take good pictures here However, the whole architectural complex is open for free, but individual scenic spots like Lu's house are charged! Here comes the check-in strategy! 1 Address: No.18, Yihai North Road, Dongyang City, Jinhua City. Route: It's in the suburbs, so it's recommended to take a taxi or drive by yourself. Opening hours: The whole architectural complex is open 24 hours a day, and the opening hours of individual scenic spots like Lu's house are 08:00-17:00. ★Features: A 600-year-old Ming and Qing ancient architectural complex that has been preserved intact Tips: In addition to ancient buildings, there are restaurants, bars and various art galleries here (all very suitable for taking pictures and easy to produce good results). Besides, the night view is also very good

The ancient architectural complex of Lu's Residence is a southern gentry residence that integrates the arts of Dongyang wood carving, stone carving, brick carving, pile molding, and painting, with a history of more than 560 years. It was built from the seventh year of Jingtai in the Ming Dynasty (1456) to the seventh year of Tianshun (1462). The whole residence covers more than 550 acres, with thousands of houses, and more than 20 buildings from the Ming Dynasty to the Republic of China. It is truly the largest ancient architectural complex of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the south of the Yangtze River, so it is also called by ancient architecture experts as an 'Oriental residence of international level'. There is also a saying among the people that 'there is the Forbidden City in the north, and Lu's Residence in the south'.

'There is the Forbidden City in the north, and Luzhai in the south.' The settlement of the Yaxi Lu family, descendants of Jiang Taigong, is a renowned group of Ming and Qing ancient buildings in the south of the Yangtze River. The wood carving craftsmanship here is exquisite and unparalleled, and every hall and courtyard is unique, offering high artistic value. It's definitely worth a visit more than Hengdian. Here, every place you see is history. Without excessive renovation and frequent cleaning, the old smell of the rooms makes you feel the real history of hundreds of years. Many movies and TV shows have been filmed in Luzhai, including Andy Lau's 'New Shaolin Temple', Zhao Wenzhuo's 'The Book and Sword: Gratitude and Revenge', and so on. Attractions to check in: 1. Ceiling with wood carving application - Dongyang wood carving. Various forms of Dongyang wood carving art are displayed, represented by the Nine Lions Playing Ball Three Beams. 2. Lanterns that started in the Ming Dynasty and flourished in the Qing Dynasty. More than 300 palace lanterns made of various materials such as wood carving, bamboo silk, glazed glass, and colored beads are all precious relics of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. 3. Ancient architectural complex. Centered on the Lu Family Ancestral Hall, the three halls of Fujing, Suyong, and Shude stand side by side. The main axis of the Suyong Hall Luzhai architectural complex has thousands of houses. Ceiling caisson, door and window lattices, partitions, exquisite stone and brick carvings, unique horse head wall architecture, all show the profound cultural heritage of Dongyang as the 'hometown of a hundred works'. Some of the scenes of 'The Great Ming under the Microscope' were filmed in the Luzhai architectural complex. 4. Three stone archways. Located at the entrance of the scenic area, next to the old street, 'The Great Ming under the Microscope' also has scenes here. Navigate to Luzhai Scenic Area, Dongyang City, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province. It takes 2 hours from Hangzhou and 30 minutes from Hengdian. It is located in the city, without crossing mountains and ridges, with convenient transportation and convenient food, drink and accommodation. There is a large paid parking lot right next to the scenic area.