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Denise J T Lee | profile | all galleries >> Shanxi >> The Chang Family Compound 常家莊園 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Entering Shanxi | Pingyao 平遙古城 | The Chang Family Compound 常家莊園 | Taiyuan 太原 | Yungang Grottoes 雲岡石窟 | Mount Wutai and the Hanging Temple 五台山 懸空寺

The Chang Family Compound 常家莊園

I like this place the most, not because this manor was gigantic, but because I could feel for the family generations who used to own and lived in this compound, had their great time, and had seen the change from one dynasty to another, then eventually everything was gone during another political change. I also like this compound because the owner did not exaggerate the decorations with poor taste. Everything was simply elegant.
01_The moat and wall around the compound.jpg
01_The moat and wall around the compound.jpg		 02_The Chang Family Compound is as big as a palace.jpg
02_The Chang Family Compound is as big as a palace.jpg		 03_The gate tower seen from the inside in the sunlight.jpg
03_The gate tower seen from the inside in the sunlight.jpg
04_There are 8 watch towers.jpg
04_There are 8 watch towers.jpg		 05_Elegant architectural design everywhere.jpg
05_Elegant architectural design everywhere.jpg		 06_The total of rooms is 4,000 including classrooms.jpg
06_The total of rooms is 4,000 including classrooms.jpg
07_Every courtyard contains brick, wood and stone sculptures.jpg
07_Every courtyard contains brick, wood and stone sculptures.jpg		 08_The owner was a rich and intellectual merchant.jpg
08_The owner was a rich and intellectual merchant.jpg		 09_Throughout the compound you can feel culture.jpg
09_Throughout the compound you can feel culture.jpg
10_There are 9 ponds and 13 pavilions.jpg
10_There are 9 ponds and 13 pavilions.jpg		 11_Faded glory in the sunset.jpg
11_Faded glory in the sunset.jpg		 12_Only one fifth of the area is open to the public, 120,000 sq meters.jpg
12_Only one fifth of the area is open to the public, 120,000 sq meters.jpg
13_One can already get lost in this 120,000 sq meters area.jpg
13_One can already get lost in this 120,000 sq meters area.jpg		 14_One of the 25 corridors connecting the main buildings.jpg
14_One of the 25 corridors connecting the main buildings.jpg		 15_Many wall carvings were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and later restored.jpg
15_Many wall carvings were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and later restored.jpg
16_There're always verses on both pillars at the entrance.jpg
16_There're always verses on both pillars at the entrance.jpg		 17_The owner's master bedroom.jpg
17_The owner's master bedroom.jpg		 18_He became rich through trading cloth and tea with Europe and Russia.jpg
18_He became rich through trading cloth and tea with Europe and Russia.jpg
19_They had thousands of camels to transport goods.jpg
19_They had thousands of camels to transport goods.jpg		 20_Their school district.jpg
20_Their school district.jpg		 21_There are more classrooms for children of different ages.jpg
21_There are more classrooms for children of different ages.jpg
22_Passing by one more big garden before exiting.jpg
22_Passing by one more big garden before exiting.jpg		 23_This street was heavily damaged after all the political changes.jpg
23_This street was heavily damaged after all the political changes.jpg		 24_The Chang family members might have escaped or been evicted through here too in 1949.jpg
24_The Chang family members might have escaped or been evicted through here too in 1949.jpg

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Danad21-Jan-2025 15:00
A rich, wide compound with a lot to discover. It must have been relatively pleasant to live there compared with the poverty that was to reign in the surrounding town...Great images of this place not too crowdy...
*V*
Raymond29-Oct-2024 16:16
Wow, such a beautiful gallery, very beautiful photography
Max Tam 29-Oct-2024 07:38
Simple elegance just like your description. Every photo of yours is visually stunning, well done.
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