Kong Xiangxi Residence
This was formerly the old home of a well-known gentry family surnamed Meng in Taigu. When the family's fortunes declined, it was bought by Kong Xiangxi,…
Kong Xiangxi Residence, Pingyao
Key facts
- Admission
- ¥45
- Opening hours
- 8:00—17:30
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Getting there
- There are trains from Taiyuan to Taigu. Take a minibus to Taigu from Jiannan Bus Station in Taiyuan, or board one on Yingze Avenue opposite Taiyuan Railway Station, at the agricultural university campus.
- Guidebook rating
- 4 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 1821. Open in Google Maps
About Kong Xiangxi Residence
This was formerly the old home of a well-known gentry family surnamed Meng in Taigu. When the family's fortunes declined, it was bought by Kong Xiangxi, a man renowned for 'managing finances with skill'. The whole compound sits on the south side and faces north. It consists of multiple interlocking courtyards, each divided into several quadrangles.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Kong Xiangxi Residence cost?
Admission to Kong Xiangxi Residence is ¥45, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Kong Xiangxi Residence?
Kong Xiangxi Residence is open 8:00—17:30.
How do I get to Kong Xiangxi Residence?
There are trains from Taiyuan to Taigu. Take a minibus to Taigu from Jiannan Bus Station in Taiyuan, or board one on Yingze Avenue opposite Taiyuan Railway Station, at the agricultural university campus.
How long should I spend at Kong Xiangxi Residence?
Plan on 2 hours for Kong Xiangxi Residence.
Where is Kong Xiangxi Residence?
Kong Xiangxi Residence is in Pingyao, Shanxi Province, in the North China of China.
More places in Pingyao

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Wang Family Compound
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Shuanglin Temple
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Rishengchang Draft Bank
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Pingyao Ancient City Wall
The Pingyao Ancient City Wall is one of the few complete ancient county-level city walls still standing in China. The earliest rammed-earth walls are said to have been built by Yin Jifu, a great general of the Western Zhou dynasty. During the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, the wall was expanded on the old foundation into the brick-and-stone structure seen today. The city’s overall layout is shaped like a tortoise, giving rise to the saying “the tortoise plays in the water, mountains face the sun,” which is why Pingyao is also commonly called “Tortoise City.” The old town has six gates, each with its own symbolism: the South Gate is the tortoise’s head, facing the Zhongdu River; outside the city there were originally two wells, likened to the tortoise’s eyes; the North Gate is the tortoise’s tail and the lowest point of the town, so all the city’s rainwater drains out through it; the four gates and barbicans in the east and west are like the tortoise’s paws stretched forward. Only the outer gate of the barbican at the East Lower Gate opens straight to the east. Legend has it that the builders feared the tortoise would crawl away, so they straightened its left leg and tied it to the Lutai Pagoda in Cisi Temple outside the city. The city wall is said to have 3,000 crenellations and 72 small watchtowers, symbolizing Confucius’s 3,000 disciples and 72 sages, so that this bustling commercial city would never lack literary refinement.
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