As the roof of a 300-year-old Qing Dynasty home gets peeled off, even the construction workers feel sympathetic. Lingyuan city, located in northeastern China’s Liaoning province, has only this one grand courtyard from the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912). But authorities from the local Administration of Cultural Heritage have concluded that the area has no preservation value, as it was no dwelling place of celebrities.

Many see such grand courtyards as a type of cultural relic for China. This style of architecture features three to five homes surrounding a communal courtyard. This one undergoing demolition has seven of these courtyards, with over 20 separate private homes. In Lingyuan, this collection of old homes is the last of its kind.

An 84-year-old man surnamed Jiang claims that this courtyard has belonged to his family for nine generations. Speaking about his reluctance to let go, Mr. Jiang chokes up, said, “The collections of my ancestors end in my hands.” Inside his home, Mr. Jiang has the earliest record of his residence: a hand-written deed showing that Jiang’s great-grandfather bought the place in 1760.

Residents believe the delicate craftsmanship behind the old homes possesses academic and historical value. However, Director of the local Administration of Cultural Heritage told reporter that the Jiang family is no celebrities, and the courtyard thus has never been registered in the cultural relics list of the city.

Experts disagreed, saying that the Jiang family’s courtyard is exceptionally well-preserved, and that there is cultural and aesthetic value in its preservation. Additionally, this cluster of building has withstood several major earthquakes without a single crack. There is also research value of techniques in it.

Locals have reportedly reached an agreement with the workers. The two parties will work together to carefully dismember the lumber from the homes. It is not yet late to take actions to stop the demolition. 

(Translated by Luo Ensi from an article published on 《辽沈晚报》)