The former Residence of GaoYuesong, located at 144 of Beiyuanmen. It was
built in 14 years of the reign of emperor Chongzhen, Ming Dynasty, the whole
courtyard is about 2310m. The construction of the courtyard is quadrangle with
wood and brick. Gao Yuesong's original family was ZhenjiangJiangsu province. In
his youth, he took the imperial examination and appointed as the second-place
winner at palace examination by emperor himself. He was fairly loyal and
diligent in his career and his upright won him a good reputation. The Queen
Mother appreciated him very much and appropriated a large sum of money for the
renovation of his residence, awarded the family a horizontal table with
autographic inscription of Bang Yan Ji Di. (which means successfully passing the
imperial examination and winning the second place at palace examination).
It was listed as a key Project of Sino-Norway Historical Districts
Protection in 1999. Invested by Norway and headed by Mr. Zhang Xiyuan,the
residence was thoroughly repaired, which won the 'Prize for Cultural Heritage
Protection in Asian Pacific Area of UNESCO in 2002'. In the year 2003,the
artistic department of Chinese Art Academy in Xi'an took charge of a renovation
of the residence in all-around, which was assigned as the teaching base for
graduate students of architectural departments of both Xi'an University of
Architecture & Technology and Norwegian University of Science and
Technology, Truncheon, and as the researching base of the institute for Famous
Historical and Cultural Cities Research of Chang'an University. The main
contents under its administration involve.
Tips:
Exhibition: architectural art of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, rosewood
furniture, couplet culture of traditional folk residence, art of brick
carving;
Activities for tourists: traditional tea bar and inn, folk art, pottery
making.
Marketplace: calligraphy and painting of celebrities, elaborate works of
modern Chinese painting, old photos of Chang'an in ancient times, pottery and
porcelain of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties, brick and tiles in ancient
dynasties, old coins, bronze ware, tourist souvenir, paper-cut and works of folk
art of Shanxi characteristics.