Shanxi Restores Ancient Building ComplexNorth China's Shanxi province has restored a building complex constructed in the late Ming Dynasty ( 1368-1644) and the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and plans to turn it into a tourism attraction.The complex belongs to Chen Jingting, a teacher of Emperor Kangxi and a famous prime minister of the Qing Dynasty. The complex is located in the Huangcheng Village, Beiliu Town of the province's Yangcheng County. The complex was later used by local residents and in 1998, local government moved the villagers out of the complex and at the same time raised 20 million yuan (about 2.4 million U.S. dollars) to repair the complex. At the same time, some of the rundown or damaged structures have been repaired or restored according to historical records. The complex is divided into inner and outer parts which consist of 16 courtyards and 640 rooms, covering an area of 36,580 square meters. The inner part, constructed in 1632, includes eight courtyards which feature typical Ming Dynasty architectural styles. The seven- storey Heshan Building and its affiliated buildings which consist of 108 troops-hiding caves are the rare structures of the Ming Dynasty. The outer part, completed in 1703, is formed by main halls, an academy of classical learning, gardens, boudoir buildings, pavilions and other structures. Experts said that the complex is of great research value since it reflects the social situation of the late Ming Dynasty and the political situation and religious belief in the early Qing Dynasty. |
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