Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard

Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard

Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (田家大院), also known as the Old Courtyard of Zhangjiajie (张家界老院子), Tujia Old Courtyard (土家老院子), Xiangxi Old Courtyard (湘西老院子), and Zijing Hall (紫荆堂), is located at the eastern end of Cormorant Bay Bridge (鸬鹚湾大桥) in Pengjia Alley (彭家巷), Yongding Avenue (永定大道), Yongding District (永定区), Zhangjiajie City (张家界市), Hunan Province (湖南省). It was originally built in the 4th year of the Qianli Era of the Northern Song Dynasty (北宋庆历四年, 1044 AD) and was rebuilt in the 1st year of the Yongzheng Era of the Qing Dynasty (清雍正元年, 1723 AD). The total building area is approximately 1019.1 square meters.

Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (田家大院) is a typical courtyard-style building with a fire-resistant wall structure, using a brick and wood frame. It faces south and is symmetrically designed with 27 rooms of various sizes. The architecture blends cultural elements from both the Tujia (土家族) and Han (汉族) ethnic groups, and it has been praised by visitors as the “Thousand-Year Old Wang’s Mansion” (千年土王府) and “The First Mansion of Xiangxi” (湘西第一宅).

In 2013, Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (田家大院) was officially designated as a national key cultural relic protection unit by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国国务院).

History

Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (田家大院) was initially established in the 4th year of the Qianli Era of the Northern Song Dynasty (北宋庆历四年, 1044 AD).

In 1723, during the 1st year of the Yongzheng Era of the Qing Dynasty (清雍正元年), local craftsmen were hired by Tian Qiyuan (田起瑗) to rebuild the courtyard.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国), Tian Qizan (田奇瓒) handed over the Duize Studio (兑泽斋) to a division of the People’s Liberation Army, and it was later used as office space by the Xixiping District (西溪坪区) government in Dayong County (大庸县). Following the reform and opening-up, the Xixiping District (西溪坪区) government built new office buildings.

In 1983, the Dayong County (大庸县) government proposed to protect the Old House of Tianjia and consulted with the head of the County Civil Affairs Bureau to turn it into a community for veterans, a use that continued until 2003.

In 2003, Zhang Lidin (张立鼎), a Tujia (土家族) painter from Cili County (慈利县), and his wife established the Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard Tourism Culture Company (张家界老院子旅游文化公司) to develop the site. The courtyard was renovated to meet the standards of a AAA-level tourist attraction set by the National Tourism Administration (国家旅游局), adding features like the five-tier flying eaves gate, a theater, and Tujia-style stone houses for dining.

In the second half of 2006, Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子) officially opened to the public.

On November 12, 2019, Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (田家大院) was awarded the title of “Traditional Education Base of the Hunan Minmeng” (湖南民盟传统教育基地).

Visiting Information

Location: Cormorant Bay Bridge (鸬鹚湾大桥), Pengjia Alley (彭家巷), Yongding Avenue (永定大道), Yongding District (永定区), Zhangjiajie City (张家界市), Hunan Province (湖南省)
Era: Qing Dynasty (清代)
Protection Level: 7th Batch of National Key Cultural Relic Protection Units (第七批全国重点文物保护单位)
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Building Area: 1019.1 m²
Approval: State Council of the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国国务院)

Architectural Layout (建筑格局)

The Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子) originally had five gates and 160 rooms, with a construction area of over 10,000 square meters (some sources say there were originally eight gates, covering an area of more than 20,000 square meters). A total of 820 wooden piles were used, and over 100 craftsmen worked for nearly three years to complete the construction. The outer walls were made of blue bricks, forming “firewalls” for protection against fire and theft, while the interior used wooden beams and mortise and tenon joints. In the center, there were five courtyards and three halls, with 40 side rooms on either side. The walls were intricately carved wood, used for lighting and ventilation. There were also four stone courtyards connected on both sides, filled with water for firefighting purposes. At the back of the courtyard, there was a stage for plays and a garden.

Today, only one gate, three main halls, four courtyards, and a quadrangular wall remain. The building is oriented north-south and is symmetrically laid out with 27 rooms, covering an area of approximately 1,019.1 square meters. The architecture of Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子) is in the style of a traditional quadrangular courtyard with firewalls, blending the Tujia (土家族) garden and Tujia stilted houses, earning the title of “Thousand-Year Tujia Royal Mansion” (千年土王府) and “The First Mansion of Western Hunan” (湘西第一宅). The layout of the courtyard is designed to form the character “田” (Tian), representing the surname of the family, with the courtyards symbolizing the four empty spaces of the character. To increase natural lighting, inverted “dome-style” skylights were added to the ceiling, a feature not found in traditional Han Chinese houses. To prevent subsidence and wood decay, the structure used a brick-wood combination, with stones placed between the ground and wood to stabilize the building and extend its lifespan, which differentiates it from typical Tujia architecture.

Major Exhibits

Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子) displays cultural relics related to the daily life and production of the Tujia people (土家族), including plows, rakes, hoes, grain silos, baskets, baskets for carrying items, mortars, stone mills, rice cakes containers, ceramic pots, porcelain, copperware, silverware, fire pits, stools, cauldrons, copper kettles, carrying boxes, wine carriers, altars, ancestral statues, cabinets, wardrobes, wooden boxes, Tujia carvings, octagonal skylights, grandmaster chairs, Eight Immortals tables, looms, Tujia weaving machines, Tujia embroidery, and Tujia clothing, among others.

Main Buildings

Benyuan Residence (本源居)

Benyuan Residence (本源居) is the bedroom of the male head of the family throughout the generations, covering less than 50 square meters. It features a five-drip-water “Fuxiang bed” (福床), named for its design, which imitates the eaves of the Tujia stilted houses. The bed is carved from boxwood and pearwood, with a wooden hanger for shoes and socks, also in Tujia carving style.

Cihui Residence (慈辉居)

Cihui Residence (慈辉居) is the bedroom of the wife, with a carved pomegranate image in the center of the bed, symbolizing early childbirth and many children. Above the bed is a “doubt-shaped” skylight, not only for ventilation and lighting but also symbolizing that the children of the family are as talented as the eight virtues of “Doubou” (斗).

Family Instruction Hall (家训堂)

The Family Instruction Hall (家训堂) displays the family motto of the Tian family: “Leave poetry and books to future generations, pass down filial piety and brotherly love” (诗书留后、孝悌传家).

Duize Hall (兑泽堂)

Duize Hall (兑泽堂) is the former site of Duize Middle School (兑泽中学) and was also where the Tian family taught and educated others. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the school relocated from Changsha to Deyong to continue its operations.

Shude Hall (淑德堂)

Shude Hall (淑德堂) is the gathering place for the female members of the Tian family and also the place where the matriarch of the family handles family affairs. Here, adult women teach their daughters various skills and lessons.

Historical and Cultural Background

Related Figures

In 1940 (the 29th year of the Republic of China), Changsha Duize Middle School (长沙兑泽中学) relocated to Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子) due to the war, where Premier Zhu Rongji (朱镕基) also studied. In 2001, when Premier Zhu Rongji visited Zhangjiajie (张家界) for an inspection, he composed a poem:

“湘西一梦六十年，故园依稀别有天。吉首有材弦歌盛，张家界顶有神仙。长街攘攘人丁旺，童山濯濯意怏然。浩浩荡荡早日现，郁郁葱葱梦始圆。”

Translation:

“A dream of Western Hunan for sixty years, the old homeland faintly seems to have another heaven. Jishou (吉首) is rich in talent, the music resounding; on the peak of Zhangjiajie (张家界), there are immortals. The long streets bustling with people, the green hills bright and clear, filled with hope. With great momentum, it will soon come to fruition, lush and verdant, the dream begins to come true.”

Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子) is also the former residence of geologist Tian Qijun (田奇隽), who was elected as the first academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1955 and joined the China Democratic League in 1957. The courtyard displays historical images and materials about Academician Tian Qijun (田奇隽).

Film and Television Productions

On November 29, 2007, the premiere of the TV drama Blood-Red Western Hunan (血色湘西) was held at Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子). The old courtyard was used as an interior filming location for the drama, and the home of the character Long Laotaiye (龙老太爷) was filmed there.

On February 21, 2010, the TV drama Rescue of Soldier Situ Hui (拯救女兵司徒慧) began filming at Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子).

On July 8, 2012, the first digitally filmed flower drum opera movie in Hunan Province, Five Daughters Celebrate Longevity (五女拜寿), began filming at Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子).

Preservation Efforts

In 2006, Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子) was announced as a provincial-level cultural heritage site by the People’s Government of Hunan Province.

On March 5, 2013, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China officially designated Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子) as one of the 7th batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

On September 9, 2021, the Zhangjiajie (张家界) Municipal Finance Bureau allocated 3 million yuan to the Yongding District Finance Bureau to fund the preservation of the courtyard and related security, fire protection, and lightning protection projects.

On December 21, 2021, the Zhangjiajie (张家界) Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio, Television, and Sports released the design plan for the restoration of Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子).

Tourist Information

Address

Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子) is located at the eastern end of the Cormorant Bay Bridge (鸬鹚湾大桥), Pengjia Alley (彭家巷) section of Yongding Avenue (永定大道), Yongding District (永定区), Zhangjiajie City (张家界市), Hunan Province (湖南省).

Zhangjiajie Old Courtyard (张家界老院子) is approximately 130 meters northwest of the Zhangjiajie Government Service Center Building (张家界政府服务中心大厦) on Yongding Avenue (永定大道), Yongding District (永定区), Zhangjiajie City (张家界市), Hunan Province (湖南省).