Jia Yin Hall’s owner, Liu Bingnan, a wealthy merchant related to the well-known patriotic poet Liu Yazi, prospered from an oil mill in Lu Su and invested 20,000 taels of silver to build this residence in Tongli. The main structure of Jia Yin Hall is modeled after the Ming Dynasty architecture, commonly known as the ‘Gauze Cap Hall’. The name originates from the beam ends resembling the wings of a Ming Dynasty official’s hat.
The courtyard is tall, spacious, solemn, and dignified. The architecture features exquisite carvings and paintings. Particularly notable are the ‘Eight Steeds’ engraved on the center of both sides of the five-beam structure and the ‘Phoenix through Peonies’ on the ends of the beams. The beam undersides are engraved with patterns such as ‘Satisfactory and Wishful’, ‘Sure to Pass’. On the ‘Gauze Cap Wings’ (i.e., beam ends), there are eight translucent carvings depicting scenes from ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’, such as ‘The Old City Meeting, Three Heroes Fighting Lu Bu’, which are vivid and lifelike.
Yanqing Building is the inner residence’s hall building. The door lintel features ‘Hidden Eight Immortals’ in shallow relief carvings, with a jade center on the lower lintel engraved with the deep relief of the ‘Three Stars of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity’. The signboard is inscribed with the four large characters ‘Generosity Passes Down the Family’. Inside Yanqing Building, there are lifelike and vivid wood carvings of famous anecdotes, captivating all who view them.
In the northwest corner of Yanqing Building, there is a Water Beauty Pavilion, a small pavilion built by the water, delicate and exquisite. Within it, one can hear the sounds of wind, water, and birds up close, and from a distance, observe small bridges, stone banks, and ancient green trees, making it an ideal place for self-cultivation and relaxation. For specific opening hours, please consult the scenic area.
Jia Yin Hall
Jia Yin Hall’s owner, Liu Bingnan, a wealthy merchant related to the well-known patriotic poet[...]
