Southern and Northern Residences (Nanbei Zhaizi) (南北宅子, Nánběi Zháizi)

The Southern and Northern Residences (南北宅子) are two grand courtyard houses that represent the height of residential architecture in Tianshui during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Southern Residence (南宅子) was built in the late 16th century during the Ming Dynasty by a wealthy merchant family and has remained largely unchanged since. It follows the traditional Chinese courtyard house layout — a series of connected courtyards arranged on a north-south axis, with the main rooms facing south for maximum sunlight. The Southern Residence is considered the more architecturally significant of the two.

The Northern Residence (北宅子) was built in the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty by an official family and reflects the more ornate aesthetic of the Qing period — more elaborate wooden carvings on the brackets and door frames, more decorative tile patterns, and larger rooms. Together, the two residences span 300 years of architectural evolution in western China.

The Gansu residential style is characterized by thick white-plastered walls (which provide insulation against the cold winters), dark timber frames, upturned eaves, and carved wooden brackets. The climate in this part of Gansu — cold winters, hot summers — shaped the architecture significantly. The residences are surrounded by the living fabric of central Tianshui — narrow lanes, small shops, and local life.