The Chang Family Compound (常家庄园), often referred to as the residence of the “Confucian Merchants,” is an extensive architectural complex belonging to the Chang family. It was initially constructed during the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods of the Qing Dynasty and has undergone multiple renovations. Covering an area of 600,000 square meters, it comprises over 4,000 rooms, more than 50 buildings, and 13 small gardens, occupying half of the original Chewang Village. Though many parts were destroyed in 1947 due to war, the compound has since been restored.
The Chang Family Compound is the largest courtyard complex of Shanxi merchants and the most extensive manor-style architectural group in China. Its layout is meticulous and well-organized, with strong functional attributes. The compound includes fortress gates, walls, streets, residential buildings, gardens, shops, street-centered archways, fortress pools, and bridges. The residential area is situated on the north side of the street, with houses aligned in a row. To the north of the residential zone lies the garden area, featuring the Jingyuan and two inner gardens, Xiayuan and Shiyuan. The south side of the street hosts various shops, which cater to the residents’ needs and form the southern boundary of the compound. The “Back Street” serves as a link between the different courtyards, ensuring that each residence is closely connected.
This grand estate not only reflects the architectural prowess and social status of the Chang family but also showcases the cultural heritage of the Shanxi merchants, making it a significant historical and cultural site.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Chang Family Compound
- Vlog about Chang Family Compound
- History of Chang Family Compound
- Other Compounds in Jinzhong City
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | 80 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 8.00 – 18.00 (1st April – 31st October) 8.30 – 17.30 (1st November – 31st March) |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0354-2756789 |
Location and Transportation
The Chang Family Compound is located in Chewang Village, Dongyang Town, Yuci District, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province. To reach the compound, travelers can take a train to Yuci Railway Station and then transfer to Bus 12, which will take them directly to the Chang Family Compound.
Highlights of Chang Family Compound
Chang Clan Ancestral Hall
The Chang Clan Ancestral Hall, also known as the “North Ancestral Hall,” was constructed between 1879 and 1882, taking three years and over 20,000 taels of silver to complete. Located on the north side of the eastern end of the back street in the compound, the hall faces south and covers an area of over 2,500 square meters, with a width of 25 meters and a depth of over 100 meters. The structure adheres to Confucian principles, featuring a north-south central axis, symmetrical east-west layout, three gates, and four courtyards. It is a grand and solemn building, considered the largest, most complete, and well-equipped ancestral hall in northern China. The architectural layout includes four courtyards from south to north: the outer courtyard with stone fences, the front courtyard (theater courtyard), and the inner upper and lower courtyards separated by the Sacrificial Hall. Key features include the main hall and Sacrificial Hall for ancestor worship, side halls, side rooms, and a theater stage.
Guihe Hall
Guihe Hall is located on the north side of the western end of the back street, facing south, with 73 rooms and 2 buildings. It is the largest remaining hall in the Chang Family Compound and is notable for its well-preserved brick, wood, and stone carvings, as well as its colorful paintings. The hall boasts the largest brick carving screen wall in Chinese residential architecture. Experts recognize the seven-bay rear building as the highest-grade structure in Chinese residential architecture. Guihe Hall’s buildings, aside from auxiliary courtyards such as the carriage and guest courtyards on the south side of the back street, primarily consist of six main buildings on the north side, making it the best-preserved section among the northern Chang structures.
Shiyunxuan Academy
Shiyunxuan Academy, located on the northern side of the middle section of the back street, serves as the family academy of the Chang clan. It is named after the rare and precious Shiyunxuan calligraphy manuscripts it houses. The academy consists of three main courtyards: the Shiyunxuan Main Academy, the Private School Courtyard, and the Yuezai Academy, all interconnected to form a cohesive complex. The centerpiece of Shiyunxuan Academy is its corridor, which showcases four large, valuable calligraphy stele collections. The corridor serves as both a gallery and a display space. Three of these are located in the front courtyard: the “Shiyunxuan Calligraphy,” the “Tingyulou Calligraphy” in the east corridor, and the “Chang Family Ink Marks” in the west corridor. The fourth collection, the “Forty-Four Emperors and Empresses Calligraphy,” is displayed in the southern corridor of the rear courtyard.
Jingyuan Garden
Jingyuan Garden is situated on the site of the original “Back Garden” of the Chang family, which included apricot, jujube, mulberry, flower, and vegetable gardens. It was meticulously planned and restored by renowned contemporary Chinese landscape architects Meng Zhaozhen, Zhou Weiquan, and Zheng Xiaoxie, preserving its original appearance while integrating necessary repairs and enhancements. The garden spans 120 acres and is located behind the various halls and courtyards of the compound, extending across the northern part of the estate. During its construction, which coincided with the peak of Chinese garden design activities, the Chang family incorporated both southern and northern styles due to their extensive travels between Jiangnan water towns and the northern deserts. Jingyuan Garden combines the rugged simplicity of northern gardens with the delicate beauty of southern gardens. It features naturalistic elements, such as small streams, ponds, pavilions, walkways, and garden bridges, creating a refined, serene, and ethereal atmosphere that stands apart from conventional designs.
Vlog about Chang Family Compound
History of Chang Family Compound
The Chang Family Compound was first established during the Ming Dynasty, from 1488 to 1505, in the late Ming period. By the time the Chang family reached its fifth and sixth generations, during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, they had expanded significantly, coinciding with the rise of Shanxi merchants. In the Kangxi era (early 18th century), as the population grew, various branches of the Chang family began constructing additional buildings.
In 1681, Chang Wei, the eighth-generation descendant, moved north to Zhangjiakou to engage in the silk and cloth trade. His business flourished, transitioning from a traveling merchant to a settled trader, establishing the “Chang Cloth Shop,” which laid the foundation for the family’s commercial success. Chang Wei’s sons, Chang Wanpi, Chang Wanwang, and Chang Wandai, followed him, with Chang Wanpi and Chang Wandai continuing in the business. By the Qianlong period, the family’s wealth expanded, allowing them to undertake large-scale construction in their hometown of Chewang Village, beginning with the “Shide Hall” old compound.
In 1768, the Chang family underwent a major division. Chang Wanpi remained at the southern ancestral residence “Shide Hall,” referred to as “South Chang,” while Chang Wandai acquired land in the northern village area, filling in old ditches and constructing “Shirong Hall,” known as “North Chang.” This marked the beginning of the two major architectural groups, “South Chang” and “North Chang.”
Over the next 150 years, under the reigns of Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xianfeng, Tongzhi, and Guangxu, the Chang Family Compound expanded to include over 5,000 rooms, 50 buildings, and seven gardens, covering 600,000 square meters—half of Chewang Village. It became one of the largest and most prestigious Shanxi merchant compounds, often compared to the Qiao Family Compound in Qi County with the saying, “Qiao’s one courtyard, Chang’s two streets.”
During the civil war in 1948, the compound suffered significant damage, particularly in the “South Chang” area. The establishment of the People’s Republic of China led to the allocation of much of the compound to poor farmers, with some areas retained by the Chang descendants. During the Cultural Revolution, many architectural features were destroyed as part of the “Destroy the Four Olds” campaign.
From the 1980s onward, as interest in Shanxi merchant history grew, the Chang Family Compound underwent restoration efforts. The main buildings were repaired to their original state, and the compound officially reopened to the public on September 29, 2001.
