The Mansion of the Changs in Jinzhong

Chang’s Manor (常家庄园) is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and the former residence of the Chang clan in Chewang Village (车辋村), Dongyang Town (东阳镇), Yuci District (榆次区), Jinzhong City (晋中市), Shanxi Province (山西省). The Chang family, known as a prominent Confucian merchant family, began construction during the Qianlong–Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, with later expansions and renovations.

The estate once covered 600,000 square meters, with more than 4,000 rooms, over 50 multi-storied buildings, and 13 garden areas, occupying half of Chewang Village (车辋村). In 1947, parts were destroyed due to war but later restored. Today, about 120,000 square meters remain open to the public, including courtyards, gardens, auxiliary buildings, and 12 km of enclosing walls, forming a grand layout of pavilions, halls, gardens, water features, and courtyards.

• Chinese Name: 常家庄园
• Foreign Name: Chang’s Manor
• Location: Chewang Village (车辋村), Dongyang Town (东阳镇), Yuci District (榆次区), Jinzhong City (晋中市), Shanxi Province (山西省)
• Opening Hours: 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30), open all year
• Tourism Rating: AAAA
• Area Open to Public: 120,000 m²
• Famous Attractions: Chang Clan Ancestral Hall (常氏宗祠), Shiyunxuan Academy (石芸轩书院), Jingyuan Garden (静园), Guihetang Hall (贵和堂), Yanghetang Hall (养和堂), Guanjia Pavilion (观稼阁)
• Construction Period: 1768 (Qianlong 33rd Year, Qing Dynasty) to 1879 (Guangxu 5th Year)
• City: Jinzhong (晋中市)
• Province: Shanxi (山西省)
• Country: China (中国)
• Recommended Visit Duration: 2 hours
• Best Season: May–October

In 2020, to express gratitude to medical workers fighting COVID-19, the scenic area was opened free of charge to healthcare professionals from reopening until December 31, 2020.

Geographic Environment

Location

Chang’s Manor (常家庄园) lies at 112°34′–113°8′E and 37°23′–37°54′N. It sits north of the Taihang Mountains (太行山脉) and south of the Fen River Valley (汾河谷地). Historically, the region was known as Weiyu (魏榆), Tushui (涂水), and Zhongdu (中都), tracing its origins back to the ancient Yuwang Yuzhou State (榆罔榆州国). It has long been an important settlement in the Three Jin region (三晋).

Climate

The manor belongs to the warm temperate semi-humid continental monsoon climate zone. Summers are hot and rainy, winters are cold and dry, with short springs and autumns.

• Average annual temperature: 9.8°C
• Annual precipitation: 418–483 mm
• Annual sunshine: 2662 hours
• Frost-free period: 158 days

Scale and Layout

With an area of more than 120,000 square meters, Chang’s Manor (常家庄园) is the largest Jin merchant residence and the biggest manor-style architectural complex in China.

It consists of fortress gates, walls, streets, residential courtyards, gardens, shops, archways, pools, and bridges. The north side features residential courtyards, behind which lie gardens such as Jingyuan (静园), Xiayuan (遐园), and Shiyuan (狮园). The south side is lined with shops serving as the commercial facilities of the clan.

The manor adopts the “back street” as its connecting axis, with each courtyard closely linked: “Doors open in sequence along the street, fortress gates close as one hall.”

Historical Development

• 1488–1505 (Ming Hongzhi period): Early construction began.
• 1681 (Kangxi 20th Year): Chang Wei (常威) expanded family business in Zhangjiakou, laying the foundation for prosperity.
• 1768 (Qianlong 33rd Year): Large-scale construction began; the manor divided into “Southern Chang” (南常) and “Northern Chang” (北常).
• 18th–19th Century: Expansion continued through six Qing reigns, reaching over 5,000 rooms and 50 multi-storied buildings. Known as “two streets of the Changs” compared to the “one courtyard of the Qiaos.”
• 1948: Damaged during the Jinzhong Campaign. Some parts were allocated to farmers and institutions after 1949.
• Cultural Revolution: Many decorative works were destroyed.
• 1980s–2001: Restoration efforts began; the manor reopened to the public on September 29, 2001.

Main Attractions

Chang Clan Ancestral Hall (常氏宗祠)

Built between 1879 and 1882, covering 2,500 m², this is the largest and best-preserved ancestral hall in northern China. It follows a strict Confucian layout with three gates and four courtyards, featuring ancestral tablets, offering halls, and a stage.

Guihetang Hall (贵和堂)

Located on the west section of the back street, Guihetang is the largest surviving hall, with 73 rooms and 2 multi-storied buildings. It contains the largest brick-carved screen wall in Chinese folk residences and a rare seven-bay back building of the highest grade.

Shiyunxuan Academy (石芸轩书院)

A family academy composed of three courtyards, named after the treasured Shiyunxuan Calligraphy Collection. Its stele corridor displays four sets of rare inscriptions, including Shiyunxuan Calligraphy Collection and Imperial Calligraphy of 44 Emperors and Empresses.

Jingyuan Garden (静园)

A restored garden of 120 mu, Jingyuan combines northern boldness with southern elegance, featuring streams, ponds, corridors, bridges, and pavilions. It reflects the peak of Qing garden design and the Chang family’s cultural sophistication.

Honors

• 2007: Recognized as a National AAAA Tourist Attraction
• 2012: Designated National Filming Site

Development and Activities

Since opening in 2001, Chang’s Manor (常家庄园) has hosted numerous cultural festivals, folk performances, and film productions, including The Flowers of War, White Deer Plain, and The Legend of the Banner Hero.