Different styles, different places

We’ve mentioned that a good rule of thumb to apply in the study of ancient Chinese architecture is that each distinct style is associated with a particular region.

For those wanting to know a little more, here’s a quick summary of the architecture style and corresponding region and features.

In this blog, we’re covering the Jing, Jin, and Chuan styles of architecture, but you can read about the other styles here.

So, let’s explore!

Jing style architecture

Jing style architecture is synonymous with symmetrical distribution and good wishes. The dominant feature of Jing style is the quadrangle shaped courtyard, an element that has evolved over 700 years.

Found predominantly in Beijing (hence the name Jing), this style is very common in China’s north; mostly in Beijing and rural Shanxi. 

Any time spent in China will mean you become very well acquainted with the Siheyuan, which is the style of building most frequently associated with Jing style. A Siheyuan is a type of residence, but throughout Chinese history, this style of building has been used for residences, palaces, temples, monasteries, family businesses, and even government offices.

Perhaps the finest example of Jing style architecture and the Siheyuan is the Forbidden City located in the heart of Beijing. In fact, it can be regarded as an enormous Siheyuan where mastery of this architectural style was achieved. Often beautifully adorned, in the most beautiful Siheyuan you will find ornate carvings, colourful decorative painting, intricate carvings, and more.

It’s not surprising then that in the past, a large Siheyuan was a sign of wealth, importance, and prosperity. They would often house a large, extended family. Even today, those that still stand are used as accommodation, having been subdivided and in some cases, retrofitted with amenities.

If you take a Beijing tour or include Beijing in your China tour (a must!), take some time to visit the city’s most expensive real estate, the hutong. In this old part of Beijing, you’ll discover many Siheyuan still providing accommodation to locals. Going beyond the practical function of housing, a Siheyuan is a point of connection for residents who use their courtyards to engage with one another. The natural by product is a meaningful shared history.

Historically, there were over 26,000 Siheyuan in Beijing, however, by 2012 just over 900 were in a well-preserved condition. Although there aren’t as many, the symbolism, tradition and meaning of the Siheyuan endures today.

Jin style architecture

Jin style architecture is a style of architecture found in China’s northern Shanxi province, referring to parts of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai.

The earliest examples of Jin style architecture include the murals and carvings found in caves. In fact, millions of people who call the Loess Plateau home reside in cave dwellings, just as they have for thousands of years. There is a logic to this practice. Caves are cool in summer and warm in winter.

By contrast, Jin style architecture also refers to the unique style of buildings and decorations that developed in close association with China’s well-known Shanxi merchants. The influence of the Jin merchants on this style of architecture is pervasive and there are many wonderful testaments to it in buildings that still stand today. 

One beautiful example is the Qiao family courtyard. It includes an incredible 300 houses and six courtyards throughout! Others can be found in Pingyao City Wall, the market street of Pingyao ancient city, and the Wang family compound in Lingshi. 

Chuan style architecture

Chuan-style architecture is an architectural style that is popular in Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou. More specifically, it is an architectural style peculiar to the local minority people. 

Like the cave dwellings of the Jin style, the geography of Chuan architecture has influenced the location of structures, which are built along mountains, small hills, and rivers. Each minority has crafted its own particular features and these distinctions can be found in the Dai minority’s bamboo tower, the Dong minority drum tower, and the Diaojiaolou stilted tower in western Sichuan.

The bamboo house of the Dai nationality has been used for over 1,400 years. The lower level of the house is about seven or eight feet high to prevent the house from being flooded, as this style of the house is found in areas of high rainfall. Animals are tied to house posts, while the upper level is reserved for living and storage. A characteristic fire is found in the middle of the building, burning day and night for cooking and warmth.

The Dong minority people forged their own architectural style. It is best represented in the Drum Tower, which is found in every Dong village, usually on the flat or high grounds in the village center. An important focal point for all public village activities, the Drum Tower is surrounded by a square where people can gather. The pavilions are shaped like pagodas, with the landscape, flowers, dragons, phoenix, birds and ancient figures painted or sculpted on the eaves.

Dong minority residences are built on stilts and three or four stories high. Wood is the main material used, although roofs are tiled, and in some regions, the corridors and eaves of houses are connected.

The Diaojiaolou also belongs to this category of stilted or ganlan style buildings. Diaojiaolou is usually two or three floors and are supported by a base made of stone. The deceptively simple architecture hides the true ingenuity of these buildings, which rely on groove joints to hold columns and beams together, rather than nails. 

The height of the buildings also plays a crucial role in survival and wellbeing. Ample ventilation protects against humidity. The building design also helps protect against the threats posed by the natural environment. With venomous snakes, floods and earthquakes among these, it’s any wonder this building design has endured for centuries.

A final word

It’s difficult in just a couple of articles to do justice to the diverse traditional architectural styles in China, but future travelers can gain a sense of what appeals to them and plan their China tour accordingly, remembering there is much to learn about the people who created it and the history and culture behind it. 

If you’re curious about a particular region or architectural style, look for a tour that allows you time to learn and explore by getting up close over a period of days. That way, you’ll come away with a deeper sense of connection and understanding – and that is certainly the content of more meaningful travel memories.

** Information for this article was sourced from Wikipedia, whc.unexco.org,  and WeChat Public Account ID: www1shoucangcom

ChinaTours.com is dedicated to helping western travelers from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and elsewhere enjoy an authentic experience of China, including those keen to learn and appreciate more of China’s traditional Chinese architecture styles found in Beijing, Shanxi, and Sichuan. Many of our tours provide the opportunity for immersion in a culture and place for a day or a number of days, allowing more time to learn about the people. We can also tailor a tour that covers an area or region that is of particular interest to you. Want to know more? Just ask us! We’re here to share your passion for learning and all things culture-related. Enquire via our contact form and we’ll respond within 24 hours.

We’ve blogged before about how traditional Chinese architecture can be a little overwhelming and confusing, especially if you’re trying to decipher its meaning on your first China tour.

Like many aspects of local culture, traditional Chinese architecture styles have endured. Surviving millennia, the various distinct styles are usually the hallmark of a particular period in Chinese history.

To the untrained eye, the various architectural features, such as the bilateral symmetry, open compounds within buildings, and the deep cosmological and mythological symbolism inherent in design and structure, can make it difficult for a novice to really understand the significance of a building. In fact, when you’re traveling on a busy China tour, all the culture, buildings and stories behind them can become a blur.

So with that in mind, let’s simplify the complexity around traditional Chinese architecture so you can make the most of every minute on tour – and maybe even share a few fun facts with family and friends when you arrive home.

Different styles, different places

A good rule of thumb that applies to the styles of traditional Chinese architecture is remembering that each distinct style is associated with a particular region in the country.

Now you may not remember which style originates in each region, or even where each region is, however, at least you’ll be aware that not all styles are found everywhere in China.

In the table below, we’ve summarized these styles of architecture and the regions they’re found in, as well as the typical features associated with each one.

As with much of Chinese culture, the distinctive style specific to each region tells a unique story in this first of a two-part series, you can discover the basics and come to appreciate the significance of each on your journey through China.

Wan (Hui) style architecture

Wan – or Hui – style architecture is perhaps the most well-known and easily recognizable styles among the six.

How will you know it? Well, if you’ve ever seen the traditional white folk houses with grey tiled roofs that are prominent in marketing for China tours, that’s Hui-style architecture.

Found in southern China, these traditional buildings are now World Heritage listed. They are recognizable as folk houses, ancestral temples and archways, which are all considered to be the ‘masterpieces’ of Hui style.

Carvings are also synonymous with Hui style architecture, with wood, stone and brick all used for decorative effect. The incredible skill applied by the traditional craftsman is only to be admired, and while the often ornate and intricate details have withstood the test of time, it is hard to find a modern equivalent that even comes close to the same level of work.

Typical Hui-style folk houses are surrounded by high courtyard walls. The ingenious design saw rainwater from roofs flow into courtyards, symbolic of the philosophy maintained by the ancient Anhui merchants who believed that ‘fertile water does not flow into the fields of other people’.

Another distinctive feature of Hui-style buildings is the patchwork of horse-head walls. Not only does this create a beautiful profile for these buildings, but it also integrates the wisdom of the Anhui people. The cleverness of this design is found in its ability to slow and even prevent a fire from spreading through a building, making it safe, reliable, and ingenious.

Su style architecture

There’s every chance you’ll recognize Su style architecture too. Think beautiful Chinese gardens, tranquil water, weeping willows – it’s the kind of quintessential scene from a Chinese silk painting you’d expect to find on your travels.

Su style architecture has existed in Jiangsu and Zhejiang gardens for thousands of years. Thoughtful garden layout encompassing different plants and structures is one of its salient features. Su style architecture is also associated with high warped ridge angle roofs, decorative gates, arcades, and windows. Along with gardens characterized by winding paths, murmuring streams, rockeries, birds, and fish, Su style brings a sensibility and artistic charm to traditional Chinese architectural design.

Fine examples of Su style architecture can be found in some of the best Jiangnan water towns , located south of the Yangtze River. Here days can be spent wandering through the picturesque and pretty streets and canals that are a stark contrast to the big city bustle found elsewhere in China.

Min style architecture

Min style architecture can only mean one thing: Fujian Province. Popular in the southern region of the province, the distinctive tulou enjoys a history that spans hundreds of years, with historians believing they were built as far back as the 12th century.

Tulou are appreciated for their superb engineering, which uses a design that relies on heavily-packed earth walls that are nearly two metres thick. They are usually round or square in shape, with well-known examples found in Yongding and Nanjing. Up to five storeys high and the capacity to accommodate several hundred people, tulous were always intended to be highly functional, keeping enemies out and residents safe.

Now a source of interest to local and international historians, anthropologists, and of course, those taking a China tour, seeing these unique buildings is certainly the stuff of beautiful travel memories.

Interested and want to know more?

Why not join us on one of our thoughtfully curated China culture tours  where you can experience the very best in traditional Chinese architecture?

Explore with us and we’ll help bring your travel dreams to life.

** Information for this article was sourced from Wikipedia and WeChat Public Account ID: www1shoucangcom

ChinaTours.com is dedicated to helping western travelers from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and elsewhere enjoy an authentic experience of China, including those keen to learn and appreciate more of China’s traditional Chinese architecture styles. Many of our tours are culture-focused, offering the chance to dive deep into your exploration and learning. We can also tailor a tour that covers an area or region that is of particular interest to you. Want to know more? Just ask us! We’re here to share your passion for learning and all things culture-related. Enquire via our contact form and we’ll respond within 24 hours.