Wang Family Compound 王家大院Wángjiā Dàyuàn

Why go to Wang Family Compound

On a loess terrace above Jingsheng town in Lingshi county, the Wang family built a series of walled residential compounds between the late 17th and early 19th centuries, among the largest of Shanxi's merchant mansions. The open sections alone hold more than 100 courtyards and over 1,000 rooms: climb through the Gaojiaya and Red Gate Castle complexes and look closely at the carved stone, brick and wood, much of it based on folk themes.

The story

Family tradition says the Wangs, who moved here from Taiyuan in the early 14th century, made their first money selling bean curd. By the 18th century, enriched by trade and official posts, they were building these hillside compounds, but the family's fortunes declined in the 19th century.

What to see at Wang Family Compound

• Red Gate Castle 红门堡: The western of the two open complexes has 88 courtyards climbing the slope in four tiers, and from above its main street and cross lanes form the character wang (王).
• Gaojiaya 高家崖: Linked to the Red Gate Castle by a bridge, it is made up of two houses, Dunhou and Ningrui, begun in 1796 by two brothers of the 17th generation and finished sixteen years later.
• Carved stone, brick and wood 三雕: Stone, brick and wood carvings are everywhere, with themes drawn from folk custom and folk art; look at the doorways, screen walls and eaves.
• Lower kiln, upper house 下窑上房: The distinctive structure puts a brick-vaulted kiln storey under a timber upper floor, giving the courtyards a strong, practical shape.

How to visit Wang Family Compound

Climb through Red Gate Castle first, then cross the bridge to Gaojiaya, going up and down the terraced lanes rather than following a single route. The open part is only a portion of the whole estate, yet still takes two to three hours on foot. Allow extra time on the steps.

How to get to Wang Family Compound

Lingshi East station, about an hour from Taiyuan South by high-speed train, is roughly 5 km from the compound, around 15 minutes by taxi; from Pingyao, about 35 km away, allow under an hour by taxi or hired car.

Where to stay

Most visitors come as a day trip from Pingyao; the alternative is Jingsheng town beside the compound, or Lingshi county town near the high-speed station.

What to eat

• Tofu dishes 豆腐菜: Family lore holds that the Wangs' first fortune came from selling bean curd, and tofu dishes remain common in Jingsheng's restaurants.
• Oil tea 油茶: A thick savoury toasted-flour drink eaten at breakfast across Jinzhong.
• Pinched noodle bits 掐疙瘩: Small hand-pinched noodles in a hearty sauce, a Jinzhong home staple.

Tips for visiting Wang Family Compound

• Mount Mian is about 10 km to the east, so the two combine well in a long day out from Pingyao.
• The compound climbs the hillside in terraces and steps, so wear comfortable shoes.

Nearby

• Mount Mian 绵山 under 10 km
  Cliff temples, plank walkways and gorges on the mountain of the Cold Food legend
• Shuanglin Temple 双林寺 40 km
  Some 2,000 painted clay Buddhas, saints and guardians crowded into ten temple halls
• Pingyao Ancient City 平遥古城 40 km
  An intact Ming walled town of courtyard inns, where China's first draft banks were born
• Guangsheng Temple 广胜寺 70 km
  A 13-storey glazed-tile pagoda above Yuan halls and murals, among them a theatre scene
• Qiao Family Compound 乔家大院 80 km
  Walled courtyards of a Qing merchant-banking family, the set for Raise the Red Lantern
• Xiaoxitian Temple 小西天 90 km
  A small hilltop hall crowded with nearly 2,000 painted clay Buddhist figures

Also within 30 km: Jingsheng Confucian Temple 静升文庙 (under 10 km), Houtu Temple, Jingsheng 灵石后土庙 (under 10 km), Jinci Temple, Lingshi 晋祠庙 (under 10 km), Zishou Temple 资寿寺 (under 10 km), Huiluan Temple 回銮寺 (under 10 km), Dongyue Temple, Jiexiu 介休东岳庙 (under 10 km).

On the map

Open Wang Family Compound on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Wikipedia (Chinese)