Former Residence of Su Yu, located in Fengmu Village, Pingcun Town, Huitong County, is approximately 8 kilometers from the county seat and just 0.5 kilometers from National Highway No. 209. The residence was built during the Guangxu period (1851-1861) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and is divided into eastern and western compounds with a village path and a small stream running between them, covering an area of about 1,000 square meters with over 30 rooms of various sizes. The eastern compound on the right side of the stream is the main house, where the family lived. The western compound on the left side consists of a row of houses facing east. The northern end of the western compound served as a reception area for guests, a place for hosting banquets and teaching activities. The middle rooms were living quarters for tenant farmers, while the southern end housed cattle pens and stables. The preserved part of the residence is the main house of the eastern compound, covering about 416 square meters. The house faces southeast and is composed of three two-story wooden buildings, including a front hall, the main house, and a side storage building. The front hall is designed in the shape of the Chinese character “品” (pin), and between the front hall and the main house, there is a courtyard in the shape of the Chinese character “一” (yi), together forming the meaning of “一品” (yipin), which means the highest ranking official in Chinese. The entire structure features a three-bay-wide post-and-lintel frame, with intricately carved beams, painted rafters and upturned eaves, showcasing the distinctive ethnic characteristics of western Hunan.

The former residence was designated as a Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Hunan Province by the People’s Government of Hunan Province in January 1996. In July 2010, it was listed as a Patriotic Education Base of Hunan Province by the Publicity Department of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, along with the Su Yu Memorial Hall.

(Translated by Yang Hong)