Visit the Li Family Courtyard and learn about the culture of the Shanxi merchants over the past century.

Learn about the culture of the Shanxi merchants over the past century. Visit the Li Family Courtyard and learn about the culture of the Shanxi merchants over the past century. The Shanxi Li Family Courtyard is a place full of history and culture. This was the home of Li Ziyong, the richest man in southern Shanxi during the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, and was built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. Together with the Qiao Family Courtyard and the Wang Family Courtyard, it is known as the "Three Lotus of Shanxi Merchants". The folk song "Qiao Family is famous, Wang Family has a courtyard, Li Family is kind" is popular in Yanjing Village, which shows the uniqueness of the Li Family Courtyard. The overall building is a vertical well-type wealth-gathering quadrangle, which also incorporates the Huizhou architectural style. Some courtyards are "Gothic" buildings, which are a blend of north and south, and a combination of Chinese and Western Shanxi merchants' courtyards. The architecture and decoration of the Li Family Courtyard reflect the values of the owner's harmony and good deeds. The couplet on the gate: "Three provinces set up chess boards in front of the stage, and five clouds gather in the depths of the descendants", and the horizontal batch "Xiu De Wei Shan" expresses the expectations of future generations. The word "Fu" on the screen wall is composed of patterns such as deer, cranes, and peaches, implying that the "Three Stars of Fortune, Lu, and Shou" are shining, and the surrounding bat patterns imply "Fu is in front of you". The architectural style of the courtyard combines Chinese and Western elements, with both Chinese-style quadrangles and Western-style buildings and Japanese-style sliding doors, reflecting the owner's openness and tolerance. The owner of the house, Li Ziyong's father, Li Daoxing, once generously donated money to save many refugees in Wanquan County, and was respected by the people as "Li Shanren". It is said that at that time, he not only donated a lot of money and food, but also personally led his family to the disaster area to help the victims rebuild their homes. The local prefect issued him a plaque of "urgency and righteousness" to commend his good deeds.