Xia Family Courtyard stands in the middle section of Shengli Road in downtown Yuanyang County. It was the private mansion of the Xia clan, the wealthiest local landlord in the former Yangwu County. Constructed between the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, it remains a relatively well-preserved ancient architectural complex.

Designed in the standard northern Chinese siheyuan (quadrangle) style, the compound features rigorous layout, exquisite craftsmanship, primitive elegance and rational structural design, ranking as a model of northern vernacular architecture.

Facing west with its main entrance on the east, the courtyard complex holds more than 150 houses covering over 8,000 square meters, split into two major sections: the main compound and auxiliary yards. Every building in the main compound connects seamlessly, and all auxiliary courtyards interlink with one another.

Situated at the heart of the complex, the main compound consists of three successive courtyards with 74 two-story encircling wing buildings. Wandering through winding covered corridors, visitors are immersed in serene quietude. The architecture reveals not only refined aesthetic taste but also the immense wealth and grand bearing of its original owner, unmatched by any other residence in the region at that time.

The wooden window lattice carvings throughout the courtyard are exquisitely detailed with masterful chiseling and delicate floral and avian patterns; carved birds look vividly lifelike, while flowers and trees glisten as if draped with fresh dewdrops. Partition screens and railings bear inscribed inscriptions including Possess Beauty Within, Refined Ornamentation, and Lofty Laurels Stand Tall. Brick carvings on the side gate feature mottos such as Uphold Kindness, Invite Good Fortune, and Blessed Harvest. Wall carvings scattered across the compound boast graceful lines, forceful brushwork and peerless carving techniques, carrying high artistic value.

The mansion boasts straight timber columns, luxuriant screen motifs, ingeniously crafted doors and windows, interlocking layered corridors, well-proportioned plantings and tastefully arranged ornaments. Rows of roof tiles lie neatly in order amid solid structural frameworks; mythical beasts atop roof ridges twist their heads as if roaring toward the clouds. A rear courtyard enclosed by protective netting is surrounded by sandalwood-framed multi-story buildings on all sides. Blending opulent grace with solemn antiquity, this architectural complex serves as an irreplaceable living fossil for the study of ancient northern Chinese construction, carving art, and folk customs along the Yellow River basin.

Yuanyang County takes its name from the first characters of the two ancient counties, Yuanwu and Yangwu, which were merged into one administrative region. The Xia clan was a prominent household in Yangwu County. Their ancestors excelled in business and ran more than a dozen pawnshops across multiple regions.

The last male heir of the Xia family was Xia Mianzu, courtesy name Diesheng, art name Shengwu. Born on the 24th day of the fifth lunar month in the 24th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1898), he passed away young on the ninth day of the fifth lunar month in the 13th year of the Republic of China (1924), leaving no descendants. After his death, the Xia household had to rely on his widow to sustain the family fortune, a daunting task. Contrary to the stereotype that women cannot match men in capability, Widow Xia managed household affairs steadily and astutely, keeping the Xia business prosperous and earning widespread admiration. Hence the compound became widely known as "Widow Xia’s Courtyard", its reputation spreading far and wide.

Widow Xia’s maiden surname was Wang, and she hailed from Qinyang. She met and married Xia Mianzu when the Xia family opened a pawnshop in her hometown. Though short and slightly slender with bound feet, she was an exceptionally capable woman. Despite her addiction to opium, she was honest and prudent in all her dealings. She endured bandit raids, natural disasters, Japanese puppet occupation, land reform and anti-landlord campaigns, yet remained calm amid constant turmoil. She bore no bad reputation, had no romantic scandals and left no heirs—a rare feat for a widow who avoided neighborhood gossip. Her life experience, shrewd management and social connections remain shrouded in mystery to this day. She adopted a daughter named Gou’er in childhood, later renamed Xia Baolian, who died from difficult labor at the age of forty after marriage.

Local geomancers once claimed the courtyard’s layout gave undue prominence to the front sections while neglecting the rear. The main compound was heavily planted with robust pomegranate trees, which were said to sustain the household’s vitality. This was interpreted as the core reason why Widow Xia held wealth and status yet bore no sons—though this merely amounts to folk folklore with no credence. Widow Xia died in 1956, leaving no direct blood heirs to inherit the estate.

On September 25, 2000, with approval from the People’s Government of Henan Province, Xia Family Courtyard was designated a Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Unit and repurposed as the Yuanyang Hall of Famous Historical Figures. The hall’s title was inscribed by Wang Meng, former Minister of Culture of China. Large stone statues of twelve prime ministers from Yuanyang and ancient celebrities including Zhang Liang and Mao Sui are exhibited here. In particular, the exhibition showcasing that the great leader Mao Zedong’s ancestral home traces back to Yuanyang attracts numerous scholars and tourists.