The hidden secrets of Jinshazhou: Exploring the ancient house "Zhao Nian Private School" in the late Qing Dynasty
#Guangzhou Attractions
On the weekend, I finally visited the mysterious late Qing Dynasty mansion hidden in the Jinshazhou construction site - Zhaonian Family School. I heard about it a few years ago, but because I didn't know about the opening situation, I had never been able to visit it. It was not until I followed its video account that I found that this old house had been surrounded by the construction site, and all the surrounding buildings had been demolished, leaving it alone standing among the steel jungle.
This visit was made possible by contacting the owner, Mr. Peng, in advance. The process of entering the construction site was really tortuous. It took a long time to find the entrance from the opposite side of the Shafeng Demolition Command. The construction site was busy, and the outer wall of the old house was full of scaffolding and temporary reinforcement was done. After knocking on the door, the doorman, Old Tang, greeted me warmly and took me into this legendary building with a century of history.
The memory of a scholarly family
Zhaonian Family School was built during the Guangxu period of the late Qing Dynasty. It was a school built by Li Ruizheng, the magistrate of Pingyuan County, Meizhou, specifically for the teaching of family children. Unlike the general three-room two-entry ancestral hall, Zhaonian Private School is more like an exquisite garden house. It has a rich internal structure, with spacious and elegant flower halls, quiet and beautiful gardens, pavilions, ear rooms and magnificent gatehouses.
What impressed me most was its garden and flower hall, which occupied nearly half of the entire house. The front porch is spacious, the garden is lush and green, and the pavilion stands quietly in it, creating an atmosphere of blending books and nature. Studying in such an environment is really a pleasure.
Renovation and rebirth
It is not easy for this old house to be preserved to this day. In 2006, the current owner, Mr. Peng Zhihua, purchased Zhaonian Private School and invested nearly 3 million yuan to fully renovate it. From old screens to fir floors, he carefully selected and purchased a large number of traditional materials, and even optimized the drainage system. It took two years for Zhaonian Private School to finally restore its original style.
Today, this old house has been renovated for nearly 20 years. Despite the wind and rain, it still has the same charm. In Lao Tang's introduction, I also learned that the owner has been exploring how to revitalize and utilize Zhaonian Family School, hoping to build it into a space integrating cultural, educational, catering and social functions, and it may even become the most representative cultural landmark in Baiyun District in the future.
Future cultural business card
Standing in front of the old house, I can feel its historical charm and see its upcoming vitality. With the gradual advancement of the surrounding old renovation, the once dilapidated area will usher in a new life, and Zhaonian Family School is undoubtedly the most shining cultural treasure on this land.
When leaving, the sun shines on the blue bricks and gray tiles, outlining the traces left by the years. In my heart, I secretly look forward to the new chapter of this century-old house in the future, hoping that one day, it will not only be a memory of the past, but also a vibrant cultural landmark in the new era.
——This visit is not only a journey through time and space, but also a baptism of the soul. If you also like historical buildings and cultural stories, you might as well come here after the renovation is completed and feel the unique charm of this ancient house from the late Qing Dynasty!