The Qiao Family Courtyard House

The Qiao Family Courtyard House is located sixty kilometers (37.3 miles) south of Taiyuan, the provincial capital, and some twenty kilometers (11.2 miles) north of Pingyao. The grounds continue to be well maintained despite the fact that the Qiao family has ceased to have any influence since the 1940s.

The Qiao Family Courtyard House was built in the late 1700s by the influential Qiao family. With their successful business, the Qiao family enjoyed a prestigious status in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1735-1796). One of the members of the Qiao family traveled around China and even to some foreign countries, which in turn made them famous throughout the nation.

 

The original name of the manor was Zhai ZhongTang, which roughly translates as "being fair in all dealings." The Qiao family’s philosophy, "Descendants be righteous, brothers show mutual care so the family may prosper," is inscribed on each side of the main door. Besieged by invading forces, Empress Dowager Cixi passed through the manor while escaping Beijing for Xian. The Qiao family gave her money and as a token of her appreciation, Empress Cixi issued an imperial edict to send the Qiaos an inscription, which now hangs above the main gate. Beyond the gate is a screen wall on which is carved Chinese characters evoking the theme of longevity.

 

The entire courtyard house covers an area of 8,000 square meters and consists of six main courtyards and 19 smaller ones, with 313 rooms altogether. From a pavilion on the southwest corner is a great way to have a bird’s-eye view of the entire complex.

 

The inner courtyards and passages of the Qiao Family Courtyard House were designed to be in the shape of the Chinese "Shuangxi", which means Double Happiness. The roofs of the rooms are also in the shapes of water waves and mountain peaks. The whole compound features many elements of Chinese art and strong traditional cultural characteristics.

In 1937, when Japanese troops invaded China, the Qiao family fled this residence forever. In 1985, the local government set up the Qixian County Folk Art Museum, which exhibited 5,000 objects of folk traditions on the Qiao grounds. Folk art, agricultural customs, clothing, food, shelter and means of travel were all included in the exhibition. Many films have also been shot here, including the internationally acclaimed Raise the Red Lantern, starring Gong Li. Information on these films are also exhibited in the compound.