Family Qiao Courtyard House

The Qiao Family Courtyard (乔家大院) lies in the beautiful and richly endowed Jinzhong basin of Shanxi. It is located exactly in Qiaojiabao Village (乔家堡村), greatly admired as a very special artistic treasure by folklore and architect, also one of the ten best tourism spots in Shanxi province. It was built in during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1711-99) in the Qing Dynasty, occupied 8,724.8 square meters of land, consisting of 6 large yards and 20 small yards with 313 houses in total. It was an old Chinese residential courtyard that thrived for over 2 centuries.

Family Qiao Courtyard House

Backbone carving, wall carving, Ping carving, Railing carving draw its material from figure, allusion, flowers and plants, birds, beast, chess, Qin, painting and calligraphy. Its design is so exquisite, workmanship is so fine, show fully the special style of residential building in Qing Dynasty, admired as one bright pearl of residential building in north of China.

Family Qiao Courtyard House

The courtyard’s three sides face the street, while the courtyard itself is completely surrounded by a 10-meter-high sealed water-milled brick wall. Yards and houses are linked with other yards and houses while the sidewalks above row upon row of roofs. Entering into the gate of the courtyard, you’ll first see an 80-meter-long straight stone pavement divided in 6 courtyards into a northern and southern row. There are slope protections between the pavements and nearby walls. The Qiao family’s ancestral temple is at the end of the western side, which directly faces the gate. There are 4 main buildings and 6 other structures. The sidewalks on the roof of every yard are connected to allow for patrol.

Family Qiao Courtyard House

Viewed from outside, the residency is serious and grand, with long yards; While viewed from inside, it is splendid and orderly, reflecting the residential style of big families in feudal society in North China.