Fanjiang Old House Cluster Introduction
The well-known Fan Jiang Old House Cluster in Xinwu features five traditional Hakka-style old houses, all designed as three-sided courtyards surrounded by brick walls, creating a square layout overall. The No. 9 old house of the Fan Jiang Old House Cluster has been designated as a city historical site, known as the Fan Jiang Ancestor Hall. The "Tao Wei Liu Fang" plaque made of porcelain on its door and the incense burner and ceramic jar in the hall are considered precious cultural relics, while the painted door walls, wood carvings, and brick carvings are all noteworthy attractions. The No. 6 old house, adorned with the plaque "Tao Wei Gao Feng," creates a serene and pleasant atmosphere with its book scroll window decorations, white walls, and stone carvings in the front yard. The No. 3 old house stands out for its exquisite carvings found on the roof ridge, eaves, and both sides of the main entrance. Next to it, the No. 2 old house presents a mixed architectural style, combining white walls with red bricks and pebble-washed gates. The No. 1 old house, built of red bricks, features a tail design on the roof ridge that evokes memories of its former glory, as if time has stopped here. The Ancestor Hall holds biannual rituals on the fifth day of the fourth lunar month and the first day of the eighth lunar month, marking the most grand gathering for worship. The Fan Jiang Old House Cluster fully showcases the characteristics of traditional Hakka courtyards and serves as an excellent location for visitors who enjoy exploring history and taking photographs. The Left Horizontal House Cluster was restored in 2021, themed "Horizontal House Points," and features six revitalization areas, including the Eight Sounds Academy, Reading Time, Craft Learning Room, Small Art Gallery, Cultural Tea House, and Living Book House. Ranked first among these areas, the Eight Sounds Academy displays traditional Eight Sounds instruments for public experience, allowing everyone to try out instruments commonly seen and heard at temple fairs in the past. Additionally, the Fan Jiang family has produced many talented calligraphers and painters. Contemporary artist Fan Jiang Ming Hua's oil paintings are exhibited in the Small Art Gallery, vividly reflecting local cultural customs through themes of shadow puppetry. Furthermore, the Cultural Tea House transforms the experience of drinking tea in the old house into a trendy activity for culture enthusiasts, while the open Living Book House facilitates shared reading for parents and children; Reading Time and the Craft Learning Room bring tourists closer to the historical site.
