Shangzhi Hall in Huanxi Village, Tonglu, Zhejiang Province

Built during the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty (1850–1861), Shangzhi Hall is a well-preserved example of traditional residential architecture with a history of over 160 years. According to Zhou Deyuan, a seventh-generation descendant of the Zhou family, his ancestor, when young, lived in poverty but was known for his prudence, humility, diligence, and frugality. He farmed in spring and summer, and made paper in autumn and winter, accumulating considerable wealth in his later years. He built this five-room, four-entrance hall, covering an area of 850 square meters. The house is a two-story courtyard building, facing south, with a width of 17.1m and a depth of 42m, featuring a hard-mountain roof and a brick-wood structure. There is a drying yard in the front and a small courtyard at the back. The building has a compact beam structure and uses high-quality materials. Moon beams are used throughout the secondary rooms, adding to the aesthetic appeal. The second entrance features a vaulted porch and corridor, and the main hall has a recessed area behind the screen wall. A unique feature is the small courtyard behind the second entrance, which is not directly connected to the third entrance but separated by a narrow passage. Side doors open on both sides of the passage, with a one-meter-high step in the middle leading to the third entrance. The third and fourth entrances form the main living area, offering a sense of tranquility and intimacy. Two large fish ponds, surrounded by bluestone, are placed in the courtyard for both aesthetic and fire prevention purposes. To address ventilation, drainage, and lighting in the 40-meter-deep house while maintaining privacy, Shangzhi Hall has a distinctive layout. From the outside, with its high north and south walls, blue brick eaves, and undulating gable walls, it appears as a single structure with only a front and back door. In reality, it consists of two independent buildings. This design accommodates the nearly one-meter difference in ground level from front to back, reducing construction work while adding layers and creating variations within the limited space, demonstrating a clever application of traditional architectural concepts. To maintain the building's integrity and privacy, pebble walkways are built on both east and west sides, separated from the outside by walls. Doors at the south end of each walkway allow for daily activities without disturbing the hall. These walkways also create a "lane wind" effect, improving ventilation. In hot weather, the walkways and passages provide cool spaces. They also facilitate drainage, preventing mildew in the wooden structure despite years of exposure to the elements. Another feature of Shangzhi Hall is the extended depth of the second entrance, which serves as the main hall, providing ample space for receiving guests or holding family events. Behind the screen wall, a recessed area and a small courtyard are created, with the side rooms serving as quiet study areas with easy access to the main hall. The back wall of the small courtyard features a decorative wall painted with bamboo, enhancing lighting and ventilation while adding a scholarly ambiance. The name "Shangzhi Hall" likely means "lofty aspirations." Given the relative seclusion of the third and fourth entrances, the courtyard features two stone-lined ponds over one meter high, filled with aquatic plants and goldfish, adding to the charm and serving as a water source in case of fire. Traditional architectural concepts are fully realized in Shangzhi Hall. Like other Qing Dynasty buildings, Shangzhi Hall uses wood carvings to express ethical and moral values. For example, the corbels on the rear pillars of the first entrance depict a "phoenix perched on a parasol tree," while those on the third entrance depict pine trees and cranes. The two corbels on the front pillars of the fourth entrance feature four different scenes of respecting elders. The beams and windows of the first two entrances are carved with bats, qilins, phoenixes, and other animal motifs, symbolizing good fortune, auspiciousness, and peace. In contrast, the carvings in the latter two entrances focus on the theme of longevity, featuring deer, cranes, pines, peaches, pomegranates, and scenes from the "Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars," along with 276 "shou" (longevity) characters of varying sizes and forms. Interestingly, the two ceiling panels under the eaves of the fourth entrance are each carved with a "shou" character, resembling two figures sitting facing each other. Later generations added over 20 paper-cut longevity images, further enhancing the "longevity culture" of Shangzhi Hall. It is a key cultural relic of Tonglu County.