Plan at a glance
Location and entrance
Qiao Family Compound is in Qiaojiabao Village, Dongguan Town, Qixian County, Jinzhong. The entrance is at the far end of Fusheng City, a commercial street. From the parking area or the exit, the ticket gate is still about 1.1 km away on foot, so include this walk in your arrival time.
Allow about 1–1.5 hours for Zai Zhong Hall and Dexing Hall, or 2–3 hours for the full “four halls and one garden.” The compound suits visitors interested in Shanxi merchant history, architecture, folk customs, or the filming locations of *Raise the Red Lantern*. It also has a relatively high ticket price and a busy commercial approach.
Tickets and hours
The full ticket is CNY 115 per person. Students and visitors aged 60–69 pay CNY 58, while children under 6 and visitors aged 70 and above enter free. Real-name reservations are available through the “智游山西” or Qiao Family Compound WeChat account. The entry method for Chinese visitors uses a Chinese resident ID; international visitors should check which identification document is accepted when booking.
Opening hours are 08:00–17:30, with ticket sales ending at 17:00. Check the ticket, age discounts, reservation, and last-ticket arrangements before travelling.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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Zai Zhong Hall and the three signature objects
Zai Zhong Hall is the main courtyard and an important filming location for *Raise the Red Lantern*. Its three signature objects are the Rhino Gazing at the Moon Mirror, the Nine-Dragon Lamp, and the Wanren Ball. The Rhino Gazing at the Moon Mirror is a national first-grade cultural relic. The attraction presents the Nine-Dragon Lamp as a gift from Empress Dowager Cixi; the Wanren Ball is a distinctive spherical mirror display.
The Hundred Longevity Screen near the entrance works well for a first wide shot. Red-lantern corridors and the entrances to each hall suit architectural atmosphere photos, while the narrow side lanes offer depth and usually a different angle on the crowds.
Four halls, one garden, and who it suits
Dexing Hall focuses on treasure displays, Baoyuan Hall covers wedding customs and folk life, and Ningshou Hall presents brick carving and tea-house culture. Together with Zai Zhong Hall and the rear garden, they form the “four halls and one garden” visit. Each hall has a different subject, so the experience is broader than the filming locations alone.
The compound suits visitors who enjoy merchant-family history, folk customs, and courtyard architecture. If you only want a short architectural stop, use the Zai Zhong Hall plus Dexing Hall route rather than rushing through every courtyard.
Build your day
One- to one-and-a-half-hour core route
Enter at the end of the commercial street. See Zai Zhong Hall and the three signature objects first, then visit Dexing Hall for its treasure displays before following the exit route. The visit inside the compound takes about 1–1.5 hours; the Hundred Longevity Screen can be photographed on the way in or out.
This route works well for an early arrival or a half-day schedule. The 1.1-km walk through the commercial street is outside the main compound, so groups travelling with children or people who dislike long walks should account for it before entering.
Two- to three-hour full route
Add Baoyuan Hall, Ningshou Hall, and the rear garden to see folk customs, brick carving, and tea-house culture, for a total of about 2–3 hours. The narrow side lanes and hall entrances provide photo stops, subject to the open visitor route.
After the visit, walk from the exit back to the parking area or continue to your next stop. The CNY 5 electric cart covers only about 300 metres, so it is not a long-distance shuttle. If you need to catch a train, include both the walk through the commercial street and the time to collect your car.
Get there
From Qixian East Station
From Qixian East Station, walk about 3 minutes to the bus stop and take Tourist Bus 6 to the attraction. The fare is CNY 3, buses run about every 30–50 minutes, and the ride takes roughly 40–60 minutes. The first bus is around 06:48 and the last around 17:41; confirm the day’s schedule.
Ride-hailing cars are limited at Qixian East Station, so public transport requires extra time. A taxi takes about 20–30 minutes and costs around CNY 40. Drivers can navigate to Qiao Family Compound, where parking costs CNY 10 per visit.
The entrance walk and return trip
Set the navigation destination to Qiao Family Compound or the Fusheng City entrance; the parking area is only the vehicle drop-off point. The walk from the parking area to the ticket gate is about 1.1 km and passes shops, which matters if you have children or luggage.
After the visit, return to your pre-arranged vehicle or bus stop; local taxis may be hard to find at short notice. If you plan to take Bus 6 back to Qixian East Station, check the last service before adding another stop.
Know before you go
Guides and peak crowds
An official group guide costs about CNY 38 per person and lasts about 1 hour. An audio guide costs about CNY 20 and requires a CNY 100 headphone deposit. Without a guide, follow the themes of Zai Zhong Hall, Dexing Hall, Baoyuan Hall, and Ningshou Hall in that order.
Tour groups usually increase after 10:00, so an early arrival gives you more time with Zai Zhong Hall and the three signature objects. Be cautious with guides outside the attraction or offers of “free explanations”; before paying, confirm the scope, duration, and meeting point.
Food, walking, and nearby stops
Food around the attraction receives mixed reviews. You can choose a chain restaurant or bring your own food; local Qixian choices include knife-cut noodles, the Qixian eight-dish banquet, and lǎma rou. If a driver recommends a restaurant, look at the menu, prices, and recent reviews before deciding.
Zhaoyu Ancient City, including the Qu Family Compound, is about 20 minutes away by car. Yanshou Temple is closer, with murals as another highlight. Both are separate stops with their own timing, tickets, and transport arrangements.