How generations of one family saved an architectural gem

If it weren't for the protection of generations of heirs, Li Junxing's 100-year-old house would have vanished a long time ago.

From afar, the house - situated in the much-visited Wuyi Street of Lijiang Old Town in Southwest China's Yunnan province and built in the architectural style of the Naxi ethnic group – stands out from its surroundings.

The family house is called hengyugong and now doubles up as a tea house; such is the presence of tourists in Lijiang in recent years. Yet it has not lost any of its original design, or charm. On a typical mid-October day, Li, the house's third generation owner, can be seen pouring tea for his guests. Dressed in traditional garb, the setting would be not much different than it was hundreds of years ago.

The house, named Qiyugong, is now a private resident museum located in the Wuyi Street of Lijiang Old Town. [Photo/cri.cn]

The soft sunlight of dusk leaks to the courtyard of the house in the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau making the century-old house far more isolated and special than the packed street opposite.

Inside the house, one can easily catch a glimpse of the prosperity and glory of the ancient family that once inhabited it, from the exquisite sculptures on display on the window sills and the gilding on the doors.

Hengyugong, the ancient house established in 1875, remains basic residence architectural style of Naxi ethnic group during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). [Photo/cri.cn]

A wonderful example of Naxi architecture and family history the house may be, but for its owners, protecting it has not been easy.

"In 1978, my father's friend from Germany wanted to buy the house with five million East German marks. After being refused by my father, the German later offered 100,000 yuan ($15,000) to buy the engraving flowers on the door of the main hall," said Li.

"100,000 yuan," said Li in astonishment. "You can no imagine how many houses that amount of money could buy at that time."

But Li's father refused his friend's generous offer with only one sentence: "We will never sell the prosperities of our ancestors. That is a rule we can never break."

After Lijiang was listed as a world cultural heritage millions of travellers at home and abroad have flocked to the house. Some really appreciate it; some still express the desire to own it.

Hengyugong's family owners faced their most tempting time at the turn of the new millennium when a businessman offered 130 million yuan for the house to transform it into a private club.

Many people in the Old Town rent their old houses and made them into homestay inns or hotels. But Li refused to do so as he thought the Naxi dwelling would change if it was rent out or sold.

Li's grandfather overcame many difficulties and save the general architectural style of the house during the cultural revolution (1966-76).

During the period the house had faced great challenges against the policy set by Chairman Mao to destruct the "four olds"— old ideas, culture, customs and habits of the "exploiting" classes.

The special wall setting in the courtyard makes the plan shadows cast on the wall subtly posing a unique view. [Photo/cri.cn]

All descendants therefore cherished the house dearly.

"Cultural heritage is priceless. We should all try our best to save Naxi historic buildings as they tell us the history of the whole ethnic group," Li said.

Authorities in Lijiang have now taken measures to protect the house.

In 2015 the Lijiang Old Town's protection and management bureau allocated 200,000 yuan for the maintenance of the ageing house.

Many art exhibitions have been held in the house to protect the cultural heritage and promote Lijiang's status as a cultural tourism city.

Edited by Jacob Hooson