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Travel Info
image of people on a boat in the Three Gorges area of the Changjiang river area

See the 三峡Three Gorges of the 长江Changjiang (Yangzi) River between 重庆市Chongqing city and 宜昌Yichang.

image of a group of houses across a lake in hongcun villageimage of buildings in xidi village

Walk through anhui's pleasant villages that has over 400 years of history. See the idyllic villages of 西递Xidi, 宏村Hongcun, 南屏Nanping, and 关麓Guanlu.

曹家大院Cao Family's Compound

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound

    The three-stories high mansions, called "统楼"("tonglou"), on the north side of the rectangular compound.

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound

    One of the courtyards that has a stone sculpture in the shape of a 元宝, a standard Chinese gold nugget.

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound

    Another courtyard. The sophisticated doorway has a well-decorated eave supported by painted 斗拱dougongs (brackets). In front is a stone sculpture in the shape of a 元宝, a standard Chinese gold nugget. In the back is a grand 门楼(menlou), a structure consists of a set of columns that supports the 斗拱(brackets) that in turn support the protruding eave. 门楼(menlou) is an essential part of Chinese architecture.

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound
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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound
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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound
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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound

    Looking below toward south from the window of the 3-tiered mansions. The double-ridged roofs, like every part of the compound, were carefully considered and designed.

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound

    Looking below toward south from the window of the 3-tiered mansions. The double-ridged roofs, like every part of the compound, were carefully considered and designed.

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound
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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound
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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound
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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound
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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound

    Looking toward the west end of the compound.

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound

    Looking toward the west end of the compound.

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound

    Looking toward the east end of the compound. The east doorway was used as the tourist entrance at the time I was there.

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound
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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 - 轿车 Cao Family's Compound

    A line of parked carriages -- the equivalent of today's luxury cars.

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound
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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 -

    The pavillion at the top of the three-tiered mansions. These are so called "Moon Pavillions" - to better admire the moon. On each of the three pavillions are cutouts of a cow, lamp and pig head.

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 -

    On each of the three pavillions are cutouts of a cow, lamp and pig head. This one appears to be a lamp.

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂正门 Cao Family's Compound - Main Entrance

    The front entrance, which is located on the south side of the rectangular compound. The tourist entrance was around the corner on the east side. The extraordinary and intricate 门楼(doorway architecture) is typical of wealthy homes and is a sign of importance.

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound

    The west side of the compound. This area is more of less the backyard. At the time I was here, renovations were underway to expand the area.

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     曹家大院 - 三多堂 Cao Family's Compound

    Village children playing in the large open area before the main entrance.

portrait of a Uygur girl

Travelogues and travel notes

Travel Information

Getting There:

曹家大院 - 三多堂Cao Family's compound is about 5 km. southwest of 太谷县Taigu county, in the northeast corner of 北村Beicun (north village). The easiest way to reach the compound is to hire a taxi (Y10), which is what I did since I don't know exact location. The other way is to take any bus south on the 108 nation highway and stop at the village front. From there it will take 15 - 20 mins. (and a few turns) to reach the compound. This is the way I got back to Taigu, after I knew how to get in. From the 108 highway, I hopped on any bus (Y4) going north and hopped out at Taigu.

Accomodations:

I don't know if any type of accomodations were available in the village, but it is best to stay in Taigu county, which is quite an interesting town. The town has other interesting sites and structures, such as its drum tower, 无边寺Wubiansi pagoda, and 孔家大院Kong Family's compound. I stayed at a guesthouse right near the highway. At night there are plenty of places to go out and eat. One can easily walk much of the town or navigate the town on its few lines of buses.

Entrance Ticket:

28 Yuan. Summer 2006.