Ruian (瑞安) is a county-level city within Wenzhou (温州) prefecture in Zhejiang (浙江) province. It's not a popular city for tourism but it is brimming with history and cultural intrigue. Our cousins brought us to a beautiful historical building in Zhejiang Province, with over 100 years of history, called Yu Hai Lou or Jade Sea Tower (玉海楼)!
Built in the Qing Dynasty (光绪年间) around 1888 by Sun Yiyan and Sun Yiran, it is considered one of the four famous collections in Zhejiang Province.
With the admission, we were allowed to explore the front hall, backyard, library, and courtyards. The name Yu Hai Lou itself holds historical significance. The Sun family, deeply inspired by the scholarly work titled "Jade Sea" by Wang Yinglin, a prominent figure from the Southern Song Dynasty, christened their masterpiece with this evocative title.
In terms of architecture, it integrates the design of a library, a southern Zhejiang residential building, and a private garden. It faces south and is surrounded by water on three sides.
Yu Hai Lou stands as a beacon of cultural heritage in Ruian. Any visitor to RuiAn should visit Yu Hai Lou as it would be a great way to experience Chinese history and architecture!
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