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Li’s Grand Courtyard (National AAAA-Level Tourist Attraction)
Issue time:2021-09-01

A shoulder pole tells the struggling history of a grassroots entrepreneur.

A courtyard records the rise and fall of a renowned family.

A love story carries a Chinese and Western romantic history;

A relief pot is engraved with a hundred years of good deeds.

The Li’s Grand Courtyard with a history of nearly two hundred years has become a beautiful scenic spot and a miracle by the vicissitudes of time. It shows its unique charm and represents a profound and colorful history of the development of Shanxi merchants’ culture with grace and grandeur.

Li’s Grand Courtyard is a national key cultural relic protection unit, national AAAA-level tourist attraction, “China’s top-ten most potential residential building”, and “Shanxi’s top-ten scenic spot with a good impression”. It is a unique giant commercial mansion in the south of Shanxi Province. It was built in Daoguang Period of Qing Dynasty. There are 20 groups of original courtyards, 11 groups of existing courtyards, and other ancestral halls and gardens. The whole building is a shaft-type quadrangle. Overlooking the whole picture, the traditional quadrangles gather wind and luck, and the big exquisite gates are connected to the sky while grounding to the earth; the Hui-style buildings are well arranged, the European style modeling is elegant, the north and the south architectural styles merge together, and the Chinese and the Western tradition blend up----it is a unique existence in Chinese residential buildings.

Entering Li’s Grand Courtyard, you can see the goodness screen wall, goodness calligraphy, goodness plaque, and goodness couplets everywhere. The ten leaders of the three generations of the Li family have done good deeds through a hundred years, leaving a precious spiritual legacy of “conducting good deeds without considering the influence and how much one give, without an end, without hesitation and without repaying”. Up to now, the spiritual treasure still shines brightly. This is the reason why the Li family rose in the Qing Dynasty. Li’s Grand Courtyard is not only a cultural relic scenic spot, but also a “living textbook” for the charity culture of the Chinese nation.

Walking into Li’s Grand Courtyard and strolling in it, the breeze is warm and the air is enjoyable. It seems to be sunk in auspiciousness: the traditional folk buildings in ancient style, the old streets being lined with wooden pillars and chiwen-ornamented buildings, the exquisite brick, wood and stone carvings, the countless couplets and plaques, the beautiful Jiangnan-style sceneries reflecting the mountains and lakes, the good people and their deeds passing on from one to another, and the architectural style integrating the north and the south, and combining the east and the west. All these scenes feast tourists’ eyes and fill them with amazement.

With its profound cultural connotation and unique cultural relics, Li’s Grand Courtyard shows its eternal charm to Chinese and foreign tourists...

 

[Antique City]

The antique city is invested and built by Li’s Grand Courtyard scenic area development and management center, covering an area of more than 10000 square meters, with 54 shops and more than 300 stalls. After several years of development, the market is now full of ancient wood furniture, all kinds of carvings, coins and stone tools, with abundant supply, antique style and good quality. In particular, it is famous for paleolithic trading throughout the country, thus getting the title from its peer: “northern China’s largest stone collection market”!

[Exhibition on the History of Li’s Family]

The exhibition is rebuilt on the old site of Jie Temple. Entering the gate, four halls are arranged on the central axis in turn. The four corridors are connected in the courtyard. “The History of Li’s Family” is on display in the main building. The exhibition consists of two parts and nine units, which are divided into eight exhibition rooms. The exhibition area covers 780.08 square meters and the exhibition line is as long as 281.5 meters. The exhibition shows the history of Li’s family----how did they start from scratch, pioneer an enterprise with painstaking efforts, and finally become wealthy. The exhibition also explores the secrets of the family’s success- sincerity and well management. There are more than 380 physical objects, more than 400 photos, charts and paintings, more than 200 cultural relics per set, and 4 scenes on display.

[Exhibition of Kind Deeds of Li’s Family]

The exhibition area covers 775.69 square meters and the exhibition line is 339.31 meters long. In the form of sculpture scenes, it shows the stories of the Li’s ancestors who were generous and benevolent. According to the scope of good deeds, the exhibition is divided into four parts: “generousness and relief in disaster”, “devotion to justice and public welfare”, “helping the poor and befriending the neighbors”, “promoting benevolence and caring for the villagers”. Arranged in chronological order, it fully embodies the charitable characteristics of Li’s family from generation to generation. Their constant kindness earned the good reputation from both the officials and the people. There are more than 50 pictures and charts on display, 230 square meters scenic paintings and more than 80 sculpture figures.

 

[Twelve-Face Brick Screen Wall]

The Twelve-Face Brick Screen Wall is located opposite to the gate of the charity exhibition hall. It is a relatively complete and unique screen wall preserved after restoration. Li family built it here to show that there are 12 months in a year, and to solicit bless for safety in all seasons, wealth and auspiciousness from all directions, and long life span. With exquisite carving techniques, the brick carving patterns carry rich cultural meanings.

The rise of Shanxi merchants has promoted the development of architectural art such as screen walls. With abundant financial resources, brick carvers were given full play; and more folk craftsmen joined the industry, thus creating a large number of exquisite screen walls. The construction level of the screen walls reflects the identity, status and ambition of the house owners.

[Gongde Hall (Merits and Virtues Hall)]

Gongde Hall is located at the end of the avenue. A brick screen wall with a height of 6.8 meters and a width of 11.6 meters is erected in the front, depicting “Qilin stepping on eight treasures” in the middle, “crane and deer standing for spring” on the left, “pine and crane standing for long life span” on the right. Behind the screen wall is a three-bay single building in early Qing Dynasty style. There are two steles in the room, one is Li Gongchang’s Five Virtues and the other is Li Gong’s Reflecting on Virtues. On the wall are plaques praising the merits and virtues of the Li’s family, so it is called Merits and Virtues Hall.

[Ziming Hall]

This courtyard is the residence of the 15th generation Li Daohang, the son of Lee Jingxiu, whose Zi (alias) is Ziyong. In 1907, he was sent by Shanxi provincial government to study in Britain. After graduating and returning to China in 1914, he built this hall 50 meters northwest to the original Li’s courtyard. It is composed of a row of pavilions, brick caves and the Sangxing Platform. The factors such as lighting, sight, activity space and geographical situation are fully considered in the construction, thus forming a totally different style from the traditional courtyard in northern China. The gate in the west of the courtyard is in high, straight, and sharp “Gothic” architectural style, showing the architectural concept combining the western and oriental style.

[Screen Wall of 100 “Goodness”]

It is a unique screen wall in China. On the screen wall are 100 Chinese characters of “goodness”, with the character patterns of “goodness” along the history----from Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing to modern times. There are 100 different ways of writing, each with its own characteristics.

Visiting “Qiao’s Grand Courtyard” is for its fame, visiting “Wang’s Grand Courtyard” is for the architecture, and visiting “Li’s Grand Courtyard” is for feeling goodness. There are 365 “goodness” characters on the screen wall, which is to remind future generations of conducting good deeds for 365 days a year.

 [Tongshun Hall]

The courtyard was founded in the 20th year of the Republic of China. It is located at the west end of the south of the lane, with the gate facing north. It is a “sanjin (three entries” courtyard. Its owner is Wang Hejun, a legendary woman of Li’s family. Wang Hejun was proficient in medical skills. Although she was only a primary school student, she was dexterous, had excellent memory and could play abacus with both hands. After her husband died, she ran the business of Li’s South Courtyard with Li Dafu. At that time, she was only 26 years old! The Nanshan wall in this courtyard is not different from the ordinary wall on the surface. In fact, it is more than one meter thick from the outer side to the window. This is the unique “sandwich wall” of Li’s family. From the second floor, it’s able to go inside the mezzanine wall, which is used to store valuables, equivalent to our modern “safe”.

 

   

 [Tongfu Hall]

This courtyard is a “sanjin (three entries)” quadrangle with narrow front and wide back, which means gathering fortune. The gate imitated the European Gothic architecture, but the brick carving pattern on its surface is the typical folk culture and art of south Shanxi. These exquisite brick carvings symbolize the psychological characteristics of southern Shanxi people in pursuit of wealth and peace, multiple sons and blessings, as well as happiness and longevity. The building materials of the courtyard are extremely exquisite. The beam of the south house of the second yard is the thickest for all existing courtyards, thanks to the heyday of Li’s family’s business at that time. All the timber used for construction is pure northeast pine wood. They hired people to stay in the northeast forest area all year round, and shipped the timber to their hometown until the construction was completed.

 

 [Xinpu Hall]

Xinpu Hall is the most well-preserving, traditional and characteristic courtyard of all Li’s courtyards. The owner of this courtyard is Li Daorong, who was educated by his “Wen Ru (a learned man)” father Li Jinglun since he was a child. Li Daorong’s calligraphy, talent, cultivation, and conduct all demonstrate the family culture, forming the unique cultural characteristics of the house. With side rooms on the left and right, the gatehouse is a two-story attic style building; it is two rafters in depth with single eave “Yingshan” roof, and no arch under the eaves. The second-floor attic faces south with a platform, which makes up for the orientation shortcoming of the courtyard. The platform can be used to dry clothes and bedding, which is a major feature of the courtyard. The second major feature of the courtyard is the design of the mezzanine east wall of the east wing-room. Different from the mezzanine wall of yard No. 1 and 2 in Daonan Courtyard, the east wall of the east wing-room is a one-meter thick mezzanine wall stretching 20 meters from south to north. It not only can be used to store secret treasure, but also serve as a shelter for people.

[Private School]

The private school was built by Li’s family for the education of future generations. It was built in the 24th year of the Republic of China (1935 A.D.). The courtyard is divided into east gate building, main chamber, east wing-room and moon gate. The round gate of the private school (wood-imitation brick archway) is a classic piece of work among the courtyards complex. As the 16th generation of “Da” generation Li Dafu studied in Japan, the wooden door adopts Japanese push-pull type, with exquisite decoration and design. This type of door not only saves space but also can be opened and closed freely. The gate building is with seven-level carved hollow bricks and glazed decorations. The craft is gorgeous, exquisite, vivid in shape, smooth in line, beautiful in pattern, superb in craftsmanship and technique; it is extremely miraculous. They show the traditional culture of South Shanxi incisively and vividly, which is a masterpiece of traditional residential buildings.

[Relief Building]

Climbing from the stairs beside the east gate building of the private school and going to the roof, it is the relief building, which is also Li’s family’s “watching building”, where a special guard team was stationed at that time. The guard team not only looked after the safety of Li’s family, but also served as the escort of the freight team, and also took charge of the security of Yanjing Village. In the disaster year, Li’s family set up a porridge stall to provide meals, all the villagers in Xuedian Village and Yanjing Village could make a register. When the bell rang, the villagers brought their bowls and chopsticks; there was no limit to three meals until they were full. Since here is where the bell rang, people called it the “relief building”.

 [Tongde Hall]

Tongde Hall is the residence of the 15th “Dao” generation Li Daosheng. Founded in the 10th year of the Republic of China, this courtyard is one of the best in the courtyard complex. The door of the courtyard is particular; except for the exquisite iron art on the door, there are six secret designs for the entrance and exit of the door. Back then, the door was extremely safe and secure. In addition, above the gate building, the firewalls are built between the courtyards, which draws upon the Ma Tau wall in the Hui-style buildings. These firewalls, one after another, stretch through six courtyards from north to south. These firewalls not only enhance the security, but also make the layout of the courtyards clearer and add a sense of rhythm to the ancient residential buildings.

 

 [Plaque of “Bo Shi Ji Zhong (charity)”]

In the 17th (1928) and 18th (1929)year of the Republic of China, there was a severe drought in Shanxi Province with no harvest in autumn, no planting of wheat, no indoor rats, but countless of dead people. The situation in southern Shanxi Province was the most serious. It cost 4 silver dollars (yin yuan) to get one “dou” (approximately 6.5kg) of wheat. In winter, it was extremely cold, countless cattle and sheep were frozen to death. People around were hungry for food. Li Daosheng, Li Daoxing, Li Daozai, Li Daorong, Li Daolin and the other brothers of Li’s family discussed about the relief and decided to spare no efforts to rescue the victims. 1000 silver dollars were given to each of the 17 counties in the disaster area in Hedong; 10000 silver dollars were donated to Hedong Drought Relief Association; and the special relief of 4000 silver dollars and 2000 silver dollars were provided respectively to Yanjing village and Xuedian Village (the ancestral village of Li’s family). In Yanjing Zushi Temple, Xuedian Ancestral Temple, Yuncheng Chi’shen Temple, porridge stalls were set to distribute food, so that many people survived. At that time, all the villagers in Yanjing Village and Xuedian Village were registered. When the bell rang, the villagers brought their own bowls and chopsticks there to eat three meals with no limits every day. The food distributing stalls were dismissed until the autumn harvest of the second year when every family had food to eat. Through this serious disaster, no one was starved to death, and no family sold their property for surviving in Yanjing Village and Xuedian Village. County heads in Hedong asked the government for recognition of Li’s generosity. At that time, Yan Xishan, the president of Shanxi provincial government, awarded a plaque of “Bo Shi Ji Zhong (bestowing liberally to relieve the masses)” to Li’s family as a token of praise. At the same time, he wrote a letter to the National Government to give praise and honor. The former county magistrate of Wanquan County also awarded the plaque of “Le Shan Hao Shi (being good and giving)” to Li’s family. 

 [Li’s Ancestral Temple]

The Ancestral Temple of Li’s family is the oldest of the existing courtyard complex. It is located in the southeast of the courtyard complex, echoing and integrated with the courtyard. The courtyard is with “erjin (two entries)” layout. In rigorous building structure, the temple is made of good materials, and is attached with exquisite wood, stone and brick carvings. It is used to sacrifice ancestors every year and receive clan people from other places to sacrifice.


 

 [Back Garden]

In the back garden, there are two man-made lakes in the east and the west. In Donggou, there are fruit trees such as grapes, apples, pears, dates and peaches. There are also 40 cave-dwelings for tourists to rest. The trees and cave-dwelings cover a total area of nearly 100 acres. There are always flowing waterfalls, rippling green waves, waterside pavilions, singing birds and fragrant flowers. When we climb up the 28-meter-high Jingxing Building, we can have a panoramic view of Li’s Grand Courtyard, which is relaxing and enjoyable.

[Flower Wall]

There is a circle of flower wall on the top of the Li Ziyong Courtyard. Although it is only made of ordinary bricks and tiles, each group of patterns is self-contained, without repetition; the wall is simple, elegant, beautiful and generous. Experts from China Architecture Society remarked that this wall was unique in China after field research.

It is said that when Li Daoxing built the house, he hired two construction teams in particular, composed of only workers who were starving and destitute. He also required that the mud used for construction should be sieved and the foundation of the house should be compacted with red clay. Here was the standard: make a round pit with rammer the first day and put water into it to see whether the water infiltrate the next day; if it didn’t, the red clay could be accepted. Many people didn’t understand, saying that it cost money and delayed the construction. Li Daoxing said, “It’s just several more meals to provide and a bit more money to give; they don’t eat or get paid for nothing!” In fact, Li Daoxing did so to aid the poor secretly. So the craftsmen of the two teams were very grateful to him; they competed secretly to show their talents in architecture, and built the delicate flower wall we see now.

 QR Code for “山西李家大院(Li’s Grand Courtyard)”

 

Address:

Yanjing Village, Wanrong County, Yuncheng City

Website:

www.sxljdy.com

Wechat offical  account:

ljdy88

Opening hours:

Summer: 8:00-18:00;  Winter: 8:00-17:00

Traffic guide:

For friends from Taiyuan to come to Li’s Grand Courtyard:

Automobile: on Dayün Expressway for about 360 kilometers → enter Wenhe Expressway at the exit of Wanrong → turn to the direction of Li’s Grand Courtyard at the intersection of Wenhe Expressway and Heyun Expressway → arrive at the exit of Yanjing

Bus: take Yuncheng--Hejin bus at Yuncheng Central Bus Station and get off at the stop of Li’s Grand Courtyard

For friends from Zhengzhou and Luoyang to come to Li’s Grand Courtyard:

Automobile: Lianhuo Expressway → Sanmenxia City → transfer to Yunsan Expressway → Dayün Expressway → Yunfeng Expressway → transfer to Heyun Expressway from Linyi and Hejin exit→ Yanjing exit

Bus: take Yuncheng--Hejin bus at Yuncheng Central Bus Station and get off at the stop of Li’s Grand Courtyard

For friends from Xi’an to come to Li’s Grand Courtyard:

Automobile:

Route 1: Xitong Expressway → Qindong exit of Tongguan → Yellow River Bridge → Yunfeng Expressway → transfer to Heyun Expressway from Linyi and Hejin exit → Yanjing exit

Route 2: along Xiyu Expressway → Hancheng, cross the Yellow River Bridge → Hejin City → enter No. 209 National Highway, take the direction to Yuncheng City → Yanjing exit (transfer to Heyun Expressway and get off from Yanjing exit)

Bus: take Yuncheng-Hejin bus at Central Bus Station and get off at the stop of Li’s Grand Courtyard

Admission:

Adult: 60 yuan (from April 1st to October 31st) ; 50 yuan (from November 1st to March 31st)

Tour guide fee: 50 yuan / time (less than 16 people); 60 yuan / time (16 people and above)

Electromobile: 5 yuan / person

Ticket preferential policies:

Free ticketing policy: (purchase with valid certificate)

Disability certificate (issued by the Central Disabled People’s Federation); senior citizens over 60 years old with the elder card or ID card; children under 1.2m in height; officer card (active service), soldier card (active service); press card issued by the General Administration of Public Information

Half-price ticketing policy: (purchase with valid certificate)

Children with height of 1.2m-1.4m or above; college students or primary and secondary school students with valid student certificates (full-time students)

Ticket and consultation hotline:

Consultation hotline: 0359-4823333 / 4823288

Ticket Center tel: 0359-4823278

Traveling tips:

1. Please prepare ID card, student ID card, senior citizen ID card, officer ID card and other certificates in advance.

2. The speed limit of Yuncheng--Linyi section of National Highway No. 209 is 70km/hand 80km/h. Please drive safely. Safety is the closest path to the scenic spot.