Wei Manor in Binzhou, Shandong: A Miniature Wang Family Courtyard?

Located in Weiziji Town, Huimin County, Binzhou, Wei Manor was the private residence of Wei Zhaoqing, a Tongzhi official of Wuding Prefecture during the Qing Dynasty. This unique castle-like complex, initiated in the 16th year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign (1890), features a "工"-shaped layout encompassing three rows and nine courtyards with 256 rooms, including the central courtyard and side courtyards to the east and west. The outer perimeter is a defensive wall, resembling a smaller version of the Wang Family Courtyard in Shanxi. 🏰 Above the gate, a bluestone inscription reads "树德" (Shude, Cultivating Virtue), written by Zhang Huiyi, a Juren scholar from Huimin, in 1891. 🏰 The rectangular wall is a key feature of the manor and offers a vantage point. However, as the manor isn't built on a hillside, the buildings lack the layered effect and intricate roof decorations of the Wang Family Courtyard, making it less visually striking overall. 🏰 Drawbridges at either end of the north hall of the inner residence connect to the top of the wall. Three-story turrets protrude from the southeast and southwest corners of the wall, each level equipped with shooting slits on two sides. 🏰 Wei Manor Address: No. 1 Zhuangyuan Road, Huimin County, Binzhou City Opening Hours: 8:30am–5:30pm (last entry 5pm) (May 1–October 31) / 8:30am–5pm (last entry 4:30pm) (November 1–April 30) Tickets: CNY 50/adult, CNY 45 if booked one day in advance