[2025 Qi County Attraction] Travel Guide for Qu Family Courtyard (Updated Jan)

Attraction introduction: Qu Family Compound, located at No. 33, Dongdajie Street, Qixian County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, is one of the national key cultural relics protection units. It was built in the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, and the existing buildings were mainly built in the Tongzhi and Guangxu periods of the Qing Dynasty. It consists of 8 large courtyards, 19 small courtyards, and 240 rooms. The overall layout is like a castle, which is a vivid epitome of Jin merchants culture. The furnishings in the courtyard are exquisite, the decorations are gorgeous, and the architectural style is elegant, showing the unique charm of ancient Chinese courtyard architecture. Highlights: Historical charm: Qu Family Compound is not only an ancient building complex but also a witness to history. Walking between the ancient courtyards, you can feel the profound historical accumulation and cultural heritage. Architectural style: The architectural style here is unique, and the layout of the courtyard and exquisite decorations are fascinating. Every door and window, every brick and stone reveals the life wisdom and aesthetic taste of the ancients. Cultural experience: Visitors can experience the traditional culture and lifestyle of ancient Chinese courtyard architecture in Qu Family Compound. Whether it is tea tasting, calligraphy, or enjoying ancient music, you can feel the tranquility and beauty. Ticket information: The price of the attraction joint ticket is CNY 35, and students enjoy a half-price discount. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance on the official website or travel platform to avoid queuing on-site. Travel tips: Clothing: It is recommended to wear comfortable clothes and shoes that are easy to move around, so as to better visit and experience. Time: It is recommended to visit for 2-3 hours, so that you can fully appreciate the charm of Qu Family Compound. Photography: Every scene in Qu Family Compound is worth remembering. It is recommended to bring a camera or mobile phone to record this beautiful memory. Guide: You can rent a guide or participate in a guided tour to learn more about the history and culture of Qu Family Compound. Transportation guide: Qu Family Compound is located at No. 33, Dongdajie Street, Qixian County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, with convenient transportation. You can choose to drive by yourself, take public transportation, or join a tour group. The specific transportation method can be selected according to personal circumstances and travel plans.

🏮【Explore Shanxi】Qixian·Qu Family Courtyard, a journey through time and space🏮 🌿On the vast land of the north, there is a place that quietly tells the vicissitudes and glory of history. Here is the Qu Family Courtyard, a northern courtyard that has witnessed countless storms. Every visit feels like a deep conversation with time, evoking emotions and yet immersing one in it. 🏰The Qu Family Courtyard, built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, has withstood the test of time and still retains its simplicity and solemnity. It was once the glory of the Qu family. Although only a part remains today, every brick and tile reveals the glory of the past. 🏡Entering the courtyard feels like stepping into a meticulously designed maze. The ingenious layout of the courtyards makes one marvel at the wisdom of the ancients. From a bird's eye view, the courtyard resembles the character '明' (Ming). The five-entry courtyard and residential courtyard, theater courtyard on the east side, and the quadrangle courtyard and study courtyard on the west side together form a picturesque scene. 🎨The brick carving art of the Qu Family Courtyard is breathtaking. Each carving is vivid, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of Shanxi and even Chinese brick carving art. This place is not only an architectural treasure but also a witness to history. 🌟Here, time seems to slow down and become gentle. Every brick and tile, every courtyard, carries the spirit and culture of the Jin merchants. The big red lanterns are hung high, illuminating the long river of history and our memories of the past and hopes for the future. 📍【Travel Tips】 📌Location: Inside Zhaoyu Ancient City, navigate to reach. 💰Ticket: 35 yuan/person, a highly cost-effective historical experience. 🅿️Parking: Free parking on both sides of the main road at the ancient city gate, convenient for your trip. ⏰️Duration: 1-2 hours, enough to savor every detail. 💚Open attractions: Qu Family Courtyard, Changyu Chuan (Wanli Tea Road Museum), Qu Benqiao's Former Residence, etc., each a historical treasure. 👣There is also the famous Qiao Family Courtyard nearby, which can be arranged for the same day to experience different Jin merchant cultures. 🏞️Come to Qixian, let the Qu Family Courtyard become part of your travel story, and feel the charm of traveling through time and space.🌌🌠

The northern mansions are a microcosm of history, where the bygone days of 'eight thousand miles of clouds and moon' and drunken poetry are now but a whisper in the wind, eliciting sighs. Yet, time seems to have an inexhaustible fondness for these northern mansions, each appearance tinged with the earthy scent of soil, a hint of dampness, a touch of abruptness, a bit of the unconventional. They are full but not passionate, languid but not disrespectful. It's captivating every time it makes an entrance, enough to keep me fascinated for many years. The Qu Family Mansion, which began construction during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, has undergone several renovations, with the main structures from the Tongzhi and Guangxu periods of the Qing Dynasty still standing. The Qu family once built 40 courtyards within Qixian city, and what remains today is only a part of the historical Qu family architecture, specifically the residences of Qu Yuanchao and Qu Yuangan. As a castle-style complex, the Qu Family Mansion has a rich and cleverly arranged layout, with the Railing Courtyard, Bright Tower Courtyard, Unified Tower Courtyard, and Opera Stage Courtyard all intermingled in an orderly fashion. The rooftops are diverse, featuring hipped-and-gable roofs, suspended roofs, and more. Tall arched gateways are topped with exquisite watchtowers. Between the courtyards, there are archways and passageways, with the bright towers and unified towers creating a rich transitional spatial form. From above, the Qu Family Mansion resembles the character '明', with the 'moon' part on the right forming the five-section eastern courtyard, residential area, opera stage courtyard, and sedan chair courtyard, while the 'sun' part on the left comprises three quadrangle courtyards and a study courtyard along the western corridor. The Qu Family Mansion is a masterpiece of Chinese residential architecture, and its brick carving art is representative of Shanxi and even Chinese brick carving, embodying the fusion and crystallization of spiritual and material culture, and is an outstanding cultural heritage. The past's yesterday is history, the past's today is now, the past's tomorrow is the future. The Qu Family Mansion, a microcosm of the entire Jin merchant culture, has stood tall on Qixian's East Street through wind and rain for hundreds of years. The fleeting, the remaining, the lost and regained, all tell us about the past and present of this mansion in different ways. It represents the 'Jin'-style aesthetics of carved railings and jade walls, the deep legends of the courtyard, the enduring prosperity symbolized by the hanging red lanterns, and the remarkable achievements that connected the world. Every brick and tile preserves the Jin merchant's residence. Every courtyard and garden imprints the Jin merchant spirit. 📍TIPS: 📌Location: Search for 'Zhao Yu Ancient City' in your navigation system (Qu Family Mansion is located within Zhao Yu Ancient City). 💰Admission: 35 RMB per person 🅿️Parking: Free parking is available on both sides of the street where the main gate of Zhao Yu Ancient City is located. ⏰️Recommended visit duration: 1-2 hours 💚Currently open attractions: 🔺Zhao Yu Ancient City is free of charge. As Zhao Yu Ancient City is still under renovation, only parts of the attractions within the ancient city are open: 🔺Qu Family Mansion 🔺Changyu River (Wanli Tea Road Museum) 🔺Qu Benqiao's Former Residence 🔺Additionally, throughout Zhao Yu Ancient City, you can find ancient Ming and Qing buildings, which are a must-see for those interested in historical architecture. 🩵Nearby attractions: Qixian is renowned for the Qiao Family Mansion, a Jin merchant residence that records the glorious history of the Qiao family. Known as 'the Forbidden City for royal residences, the Qiao Family for civilian homes', it is famous throughout Shanxi and beyond, a peerless treasure trove of art that is well worth a visit. 🔺Qu Family Mansion to Qiao Family Mansion: a 22-minute drive, can be visited in one day.