Qiao Family Compound: The Merchant Mansion of Qi County
The Qiao Family Compound is a walled Qing-dynasty mansion in Qiaojiabao village, Qi County, in the prefecture of Jinzhong. English Wikipedia places it about 30 kilometres northeast of Pingyao Ancient City, and it is about 54 kilometres from Taiyuan. Its formal name is Zaizhong Hall, and it was home to the Qiao merchant family, whose best-known head was the financier Qiao Zhiyong, who lived from 1818 to 1907. Most foreign visitors know it as the set of Zhang Yimou's 1991 film Raise the Red Lantern.
Who the Qiaos were
The Qiaos were part of the Shanxi merchant network that also built the draft banks of Pingyao, explained on the Rishengchang page. Building began in 1756, in the Qianlong reign. Chinese Wikipedia says the house was enlarged twice and then extended once more, and reached its present form in the early Republic, so what you walk through is the work of several generations. English Wikipedia credits Qiao Zhiyong with expanding both the business and the compound.
The family lived here into the twentieth century. In 1985 the county turned the house into the Qi County Folk Museum, which opened on 1 November 1986, and the compound became a national heritage site in 2001.
The layout
English Wikipedia describes about 9,000 square metres of buildings with 313 rooms arranged in six large courtyards and nineteen smaller ones. The plan is often said to trace the character for double happiness when seen from above, which the aerial photograph helps you judge for yourself. The outer wall is high and blind, about ten metres by some accounts, and alleys between the courtyards let guards patrol the whole house, which made it as much a fortress as a home.
The detail is the reason to come. Brick, wood and stone carving covers screens, brackets and gateways, and stone lions guard many of the entrances. The rooms now serve the Qi County Folk Museum and are fitted with period furnishings and displays on local customs.
Film and controversy
Raise the Red Lantern made the compound famous, and the 2006 television series Qiao's Grand Courtyard, also shot here, made it a domestic hit. Fame brought problems. Chinese Wikipedia records that management passed to a private joint venture in 2007, that ticket prices rose well above those of comparable sites, and that in 2019 the national tourism authorities stripped the compound of its 5A rating for over-commercialisation. The site closed for ten days in August 2019 for rectification, cleared out vendors and promised lower prices.
Tickets and hours
Jinzhong Bendibao's 2026 listing gives a real-name full-price ticket of 115 yuan and a half-price ticket of 58 yuan for young people aged 6 to 18 and full-time students. Children under six or 1.2 metres, visitors aged 60 and over and several other groups enter free with documents. From 1 May 2026 the compound opens 08:30 to 18:00, with ticket sales and entry ending at 17:30. Check the day's notice.
Getting there
The compound is off the S60 Yuci to Qi County expressway, at the Qiao Family Compound exit. Buses from Taiyuan to Qi County stop at the compound. The nearest rail stop is Qixian station, under 20 kilometres away, and Taiyuan South station and Taiyuan Wusu airport are about 45 kilometres away. From Pingyao most people hire a car or taxi for the half-day. The car park is on the south side, at the Fushengcheng entrance.
Qiao or Wang?
The Jinzhong guide suggests choosing one mansion. The Wang Family Compound in Lingshi County is far bigger; English Wikipedia counts 231 courtyards and 2,078 rooms across eight hectares, built from the Kangxi to the Jiaqing reigns on a hillside above Jingsheng village. Its terraced hillside setting is the more dramatic of the two. Qiao is closer to Taiyuan and Pingyao, more compact, and has the film connection. If you only have half a day between Taiyuan and Pingyao, Qiao is the practical choice.
How long and when
Two to three hours is enough. Arrive near opening on holidays and weekends, when the compound is busiest. Spring and autumn are the comfortable seasons.
Things to confirm before you go
- Opening hours and the ticket price on the day.
- Your car or bus back toward Pingyao or Taiyuan.
- Whether you want Qiao or Wang, since doing both in one day is tiring.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Qiao Family Compound the Raise the Red Lantern house?
Yes. It was the main location for Zhang Yimou's 1991 film.
How much is the ticket?
Local listings for 2026 give 115 yuan full price and 58 yuan half price.
How far is it from Pingyao?
About 30 kilometres northeast, in Qi County. Most people go by car.
Is it worth it after Pingyao?
Yes if courtyards and carving interest you. It shows a single rich household in more detail than any house in Pingyao.
Sources
Facts in this article were checked against the following sources, retrieved 7 October 2026.
- Qiao Family Compound, English Wikipedia
- 乔家大院, Chinese Wikipedia
- Qiao Family Compound tickets, hours and transport 2026, Jinzhong Bendibao
- Wang Family Compound, English Wikipedia
- Pingyao, English Wikipedia
Photos are from Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown in each caption.