The Xishan Carved Building is located in Tangli Village, Xishan Town. In ancient times, transportation in the Jiangnan region largely depended on waterways, and Tangli was known for its well-connected “living water” docks. The original name of the Xishan Carved Building was ‘Ren Ben Tang,’ derived from the concept of ‘benevolence as the foundation and propriety as the basis of education.’ Covering an area of approximately 3 acres, the building once had five courtyards, seven wings, and seven skywells, and was first constructed during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, making it a prominent household in Xishan.
The Carved Building was gradually built up by the descendants of the Xu family over four dynasties—Kangxi, Qianlong, Xianfeng, and Daoguang—by continually adding bricks and beams. One of the main reasons the Carved Building has been passed down to the present day is its unparalleled carvings. As soon as one enters the building, one is greeted by exquisite carvings. The beams, lintels, and long windows are adorned with beautiful woodcarvings; the gate towers, screens, and walls are made of solemn and heavy brick carvings. In addition, there are over 3,000 carvings, ranging from large brick carving plaques to small wooden flower windows, depicting flowers, birds, fish, insects, or theatrical stories, all unique and without repetition.
It is a great pity that many of these carvings were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. The cultural relic appraiser and historian, Mr. Shi Shuqing, once said, ‘It is not an ordinary civilian residence; it has a royal aura.’ The opening hours are from 08:30 to 16:30 all year round. Additional information on preferential policies: 1. Free policy: Children with a height of 1.4 meters (including 1.4 meters) are free of charge. 2. The above information is for reference only; specific details are subject to the public notice of the scenic spot. 3. Preferential policy: Children under 6 years old (excluding 6 years old) and over 1.4 meters (excluding 1.4 meters) in height, elderly people over 60 years old (excluding 60 years old) with valid identification, and full-time university undergraduate students and below can purchase preferential tickets.
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