Many courtyards
275 rooms.
Rolfmueller — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sylvain Kalache from San Francisco, USA — CC BY 2.0 · Xylener — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Xylener — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Xylener — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Xylener — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sylvain Kalache from San Francisco, USA — CC BY 2.0 · Xylener — CC BY-SA 3.0
One of the largest and finest traditional houses in northern China, home of a wealthy merchant of the Shi family, who made their fortune shipping grain on the Grand Canal; it was built in 1875 in the old town of Yangliuqing west of Tianjin, and locals call it «the first mansion of North China». Today the house spreads over about 10,000 square metres of large and small courtyards, with more than 275 rooms that served as the family's homes and offices, a private theatre and a garden in the southern style, its walls and gateways adorned with fine brick and wood carving. It now serves as the town's folk custom museum, showing the famous Yangliuqing New Year prints made with woodblocks, among China's best-known folk arts, along with brick carvings and the furniture of rich old households. Tickets are about CNY 25, with opening from 9:00 to 17:00 in summer and to 16:30 in winter, per visitor guides. The town also has an old street and folk-print shops, enough for half a day.
275 rooms.
For the family.
And woodwork.
Yangliuqing town, Xiqing District, about 20 km west of central Tianjin
It lies in Yangliuqing town about 20 km west of the centre, reached by bus or taxi, and tickets are about CNY 25, per visitor guides.