Zhejiang Longyou Residential Houses Zishu Hall

Originally located in Shangzhang Village, Mohuan Township, Zishu Hall was built in the late Qing Dynasty, during the Daoguang era. Funded by Zhang Shitang, the 18th-generation descendant of the Zhang family, the construction spanned three years and covers an area of 463.68 square meters. Locals refer to it as the "New Hall." The building's gatehouse features brick carvings imitating wooden structures, with a four-pillar, three-tiered, and multi-eaved archway design. Its staggered heights create a unique and magnificent appearance, showcasing exquisite and masterful brick carving techniques and rich content. The building has three entrances and three bays. The first two entrances serve as halls for receiving guests and holding large celebrations, while the third houses ancestral tablets, a place for the family to continue their lineage. Two small courtyards are situated between the entrances, enclosed by uniquely designed stone railings. The building's wood carvings are also of exceptional quality. The corbels, reaching a height of one meter, are the largest found in the county to date, making Zishu Hall a quintessential example of a wealthy merchant's residence in Longyou. It is a key cultural relic site protected at the provincial level in Zhejiang.