Old residence of Cai family, Historical residence in Nan'an, China.
The Old Residence of the Cai Family is a Qing-era complex in Zhangli Village, Guanqiao Town, Nan'an, Fujian. Built from 1865 to 1911, it covers more than 30,000 square metres and holds nearly 400 rooms, most facing south. The buildings use chuandou timber frames, hard gable roofs, swallowtail ridges and red walls with red tiles.
The complex was begun in 1865, the fourth year of the Tongzhi reign, by the returned Philippine Chinese Cai Qichang and his son Cai Zisen (1839-1911), and was completed in 1911, the last year of the Xuantong reign. It was listed in 2001 as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.
The complex was built by the returned Philippine Chinese Cai Qichang and his son Cai Zisen (1839–1911), and its name comes from this family. Visitors can see the red walls and red tiles of southern Fujian houses, with swallowtail ridges on the gable roofs. The buildings are mostly chuandou-style timber frames, and most face south.
The complex lies in Zhangli Village, Guanqiao Town, Nan'an, Fujian. Bus K202 stops at the Cai Family Ancient Residences station. The buildings are spread over more than 30,000 square metres, so plan time to walk between courtyards.
The complex was begun in 1865 by Cai Qichang, a returned overseas Chinese from the Philippines, and completed in 1911 by his son Cai Zisen (1839–1911), so construction spanned both men's lifetimes. Most of the nearly 400 surviving rooms face south.
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