The Imperial Examination Winner’s Mansion is located in the core area of He Xia Ancient Town, Huai’an City, Jiangsu Province, adjacent to the ancient canal. It consists of two parts: the old residence and the garden of the top scholar during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. Covering an area of 8800 square meters with a construction area of 4500 square meters, it is an important cultural landscape in He Xia Ancient Town. Shen Kun, who was a classmate and friend of the author of ‘Journey to the West’, used the landscapes of the Shen Mansion as a basis for creating the magical scenes in his novel. By visiting the Shen Mansion, one can catch a glimpse of the subtleties within. The mansion is composed of six distinct areas: the winner’s tower, the old residence area, the martial arts area, the study area, the garden area, and the memorial area. Each of these areas has its own unique features and complements each other. The winner’s tower is simple and elegant, with a solemn and respectful atmosphere; the Shen family’s old residence showcases the characteristics of Jiangnan residential architecture with blue bricks and black tiles, elegant and clean; the martial arts area recreates the grandeur of martial arts practice and formation; the study area traces the history of the imperial examination culture; the garden area is freehand landscape, with winding paths leading to secluded spots; the memorial area is the Shen Kun family temple, where the ancestral tablets of ancestors within five generations from the great-grandfather are enshrined. Visiting the Shen Mansion and strolling through the garden leaves one with endless aftertaste and reluctance to leave. Opening hours are from 08:30 to 17:00 all year round.
Preferential policies: Elderly: Free for those aged 70 and above (with a valid ID or other valid documents). Disabled: Free with a disability certificate. Military: Free for active-duty military personnel (with an active-duty officer’s ID or soldier’s ID). Children: Free for those aged 6 and below or under 1.4 meters in height.
Additional information: The above information is for reference only; please check the information disclosed by the scenic spot on the day of your visit.
Shen Kun’s Imperial Examination Winner’s Mansion
The Imperial Examination Winner’s Mansion is located in the core area of He Xia Ancient Town, [...]
