The carved building in Gaogang district, currently known as the Taizhou Medical High-tech Zone – administered by Taizhou city in East China's Jiangsu province – is renowned for its exquisite craft, rich cultural references and beautiful proportions.
The Gaogang carved building, one of three ancient carved buildings extant in Jiangsu province, is also a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.
The Gaogang carved building is configured as a four square structure. [Photo/WeChat ID: tztour]
It consists of a two-story main building with five rooms each in the front and back and a compartment building with three rooms each on the left and right, with a patio in the middle and buildings around it. So it has another name – the four square building.
The building was first built by a lumber merchant surnamed Yao in 1739. Later in the early years of the Republic of China, Li Songru, a rich local man, took over the building and transformed the previous building into the existing four square one.
The subjects of its carvings are diverse – including landscapes, people, flowers, animals, clouds, eight treasures and other patterns. The Gaogang carved building also draws on materials from historical stories – like idyllist Tao Yuanming , who lived in the Jin Dynasty (265-420) and who loved chrysanthemums.
In recent years, a place for foreigners has been set up in the area – with paintings and a calligraphy exhibition, Chinese literature reading, Chinese musical instrument training and other activities providing a bridge for cultural exchanges.