Ganxi Mansion is located in Qinhuai District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, with a total area of over 21,000 square meters. It is the largest and most well-preserved private residence in Qing Dynasty in Nanjing. It is called the three major landscapes of Nanjing Ming and Qing Dynasties with the Ming Dynasty Xiaoling Mausoleum and Ming Dynasty City Wall. It has a high historical, scientific and tourist value.
Gan Xi (1798~1853) was a famous literati, epigrapher and bibliophile in Nanjing in the late Qing Dynasty. He studied the epigraphy, and he was good at geomancy and astrology. The “Ganxi Mansion” was built by his father Gan Fu, and later Gan Xi continued to build and expand.
Ganxi Mansion was built by three groups of five cross-hall style ancient buildings. The folks are commonly known as “ninety-nine and half houses”. The layout of the building is strictly arranged in accordance with the patriarchal concepts and family system of the feudal society. It pays attention to the children and grandchildren, the generations of the same family, and the location, decoration, area and shape of all kinds of houses have a unified level.
The traditional houses fully embody the unique and long-lasting cultural atmosphere of the Chinese civilization and the traditional Chinese outlook on life through the decorative ridges, doors and windows, gallery eaves, column beams, door covers, gatehouses and brick carvings. It also reflects the level of Chinese literature, calligraphy, music, dance and other arts in this field.
The “Nanjing Folk Museum” is located in the Ganxi Mansion. It is a professional museum that collects and displays folk articles and studies folk tradition and folk customs in Nanjing. In the museum, there are old artists performing shadow play, clay figurines, magic, Chinese ring puzzle, paper cuts, etc. Visitors can learn the skills on the spot.
Address: No. 15, Nanbu Hall, Zhongshan South Road, Qinhuai District
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
Tickets price: 20 yuan
Transportation: Tourist No.2, Tourist No. 4, No.2, No.4, No.7, No.16, No.26, No.33, No.37, No.40, No.47, No.49, No.62, No.101, No.102, Metro Line 1 Sanshan Street Station.
