Haining Yanguan Chen Ge Lao Residence

Chen Ge Lao Residence: Located on Guyi Road in Yanguan Ancient Town, Haining City, Zhejiang Province, it is one of the main attractions in Haining Yanguan Tourist Resort. It was first built during the late Ming Dynasty by Chen Yuxiang, the great-grandfather of Chen Yuanlong. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, Chen Yuanlong rebuilt and expanded the residence after becoming a prime minister. The residence consists of three parts: the east, middle, and west. During the 150 years from the late Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty, the Chen family was famous and influential, with 32 people passing the imperial examination, 3 people becoming prime ministers, 13 people becoming ministers, and more than 300 people becoming officials. The Chen family was famous for its success in the imperial examination and officialdom. In the late Qianlong period, the Chen family declined, and most of the buildings in the residence were demolished by the end of the Qing Dynasty. Only the sedan hall in the middle and some buildings in the east, such as the ancestral hall, sleeping building, Yunxiang Pavilion, and Shuangqing Caotang, remain. However, the remaining buildings are well-preserved, with exquisite architecture and decoration, solid wood carved doors and windows, and a simple and elegant style, fully reflecting the glory of the Chen family in the past.