Zeng Family Western-style House

The Zeng Family Western-style House is located in Dunshangshe, Dongmei Village, Jiaomei Town, Longhai City, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province. Its construction began in 1903 and took 14 years to complete by Zeng Zhenyuan, a wealthy overseas Chinese from Singapore, and his son. This complex bears witness to the story of a generation's struggle in Southeast Asia. On the day of its completion, the Zeng family held a three-day feast at the Western-style house, where all the residents of Dongmei, young and old, could eat and drink to their hearts' content, a story still told today.‌‌ Facing south, the Zeng Family Western-style House blends Chinese and Western architectural styles. Built with a mixed structure of stone, brick, and wood, it has a "U"-shaped layout. The entire building is symmetrically arranged along the ancestral hall as the central axis, forming a five-column, three-row architectural pattern. Wide stone courtyards connect each row, known as the front, middle, and rear courtyards. The front row consists of traditional Minnan-style houses, the middle row features Gothic-style buildings reminiscent of Southeast Asia, and the back row is composed of red-brick Qilou buildings. The entire complex comprises 13 buildings with 99 rooms, covering an area of over 5,300 square meters, with a construction area of 2,627 square meters.‌‌ Zeng Zhenyuan was born in Dongmei Village, Jiaomei Town, in 1840. Due to poverty, he was sent to a Chen family as an adopted son and made a living by collecting river snails. In 1856, at the age of 16, he and a friend ventured to Southeast Asia. After years of hard work, he became a leading shipping magnate in Singapore. Having amassed a fortune, Zeng Zhenyuan fulfilled his dream of returning home in glory and building a grand house. The construction of the Zeng Family Western-style House not only embodies a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles but also incorporates the characteristics of traditional Chinese courtyard houses, showcasing a perfect fusion of science and art.‌‌ In 2013, the Zeng Family Western-style House was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit in the eighth batch, and in 2019, it was included in the eighth batch of national key cultural relic protection units. This complex not only showcases a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles but also stands as a testament to the history of overseas Chinese struggles. Currently, as a significant historical and cultural heritage site, the Zeng Family Western-style House is well-protected and managed.‌‌ Considering the remote location of the site and the inconvenience of returning, we hired a car to go there. The trip was worthwhile, especially for those interested in Republican-era history and architecture.