During the "A Date with China 2025" international media tour to Shanxi province, content creators visited the Wang Family Compound dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). The compound has been called home by thousands, directly or indirectly, a part of this powerful merchant family. Inside the little world they created, the creators incorporated symbols and messages into the architecture that not just inspire, but teach values to future generations.

A stone pedestal at the Wang Family Compound is inscribed with stylistic motifs, including the auspicious bat. [Photo by ELLIOT MALDONADO/CHINA DAILY]

Fortune

A pedestal beneath a wooden pillar serves practical purposes like preventing rot and adding strength, as well as decorative purposes. Looking carefully, one can see a bat inscribed within, which is not something to avoid in China because the pronunciation of "bat" in Mandarin is the same as "wealth".

Stone lions along a stairway wish visitors a long life by representing the four seasons. [Photo by ELLIOT MALDONADO/CHINA DAILY]

Longevity and Unity

A male lion paired with a female and her cub is a common sight in China, showing strength and stability, but four little lions in one courtyard hardly seem like guardians. Having a pronunciation similar to "time", these lions represent the four seasons and longevity, while the nearby ball suggests unity. Two sides of the same coin for a family wanting to stay strong.

A tablet recounts one of the 24 stories of piety and is found alongside others in the Wang Family Compound. [Photo by ELLIOT MALDONADO/CHINA DAILY]

Family First

In one of the compound's many courtyards are tablets inscribed with classical stories of devotion to one's family. Rather than taking the mind to faraway places, the stories of virtue are meant to bring the viewer's thoughts closer to home.

A fish fighting its way upstream symbolizes the struggle one faces in bettering themselves. [Photo by ELLIOT MALDONADO/CHINA DAILY]

Perseverance

A small post by a stairway, easily overlooked, shows a fish rising out of the water. The scene tells the story of a carp that battled its way through Dragon's Gate to become a dragon. Its message is a reminder not to rest on one's laurels but to work hard for a better future.

The numerous symbols in Shanxi's Wang Family Compound reflect the forward thinking that brought the family its fortune. Rather than simply wishing everyone fortune and longevity, viewers are reminded of the importance of goodness, unity, and diligence in achieving these.

Elliot Maldonado is a foreign expert at China Daily Website.