Wang Family Courtyard (Shanhaiguan Folk Museum)
山海关古城民俗博物馆（王家大院）
About
Wang Family Courtyard, also known as the Shanhaiguan Folk Museum, sits just west of the First Pass Under Heaven watchtower and is billed as the "first house along the Great Wall." Built in the late Ming to early Qing period, it is a classic Ming-Qing courtyard complex of three linked courtyards and 18 exhibition halls on about 2,000+ sq m of floor space. It was originally the home of Wang Sanfo, a wealthy Shanxi salt merchant. Today it houses folk-life exhibits recreating Qing-era domestic scenes, offering visitors a window into Shanhaiguan's old-city history and Shanxi merchant culture.
Highlights
- "First house along the Great Wall"
- Ming-Qing courtyard complex
- Three courtyards, 18 exhibition halls
- Former residence of merchant Wang Sanfo
- Recreated old-city folk-life scenes
Getting there
- By train & bus
- From Shanhaiguan Railway Station, walk to the First Pass Under Heaven scenic area. Wang Family Courtyard is just west of the gate tower and reachable on foot.
- By car
- From downtown Qinhuangdao, head toward Shanhaiguan Old Town via Qinhuang West Street/Qingshou Road or G228; the drive takes about 30-40 minutes. From Beidaihe Railway Station it's about 30 minutes.
Open in Google MapsOpen in Amap (works in China)
Address 河北省秦皇岛市山海关区古城东三条29号
Show the Chinese address to your driver.
Before you go
- It's right next to the First Pass Under Heaven gate tower, so plan to visit both on the same trip.
- Check the day's ticket price on a platform like Ctrip before you go — online sources list both ¥30 and ¥50.
- The exhibits are entirely indoors, so it's a good option in any season, including rain or snow.
- It pairs well with other historic streets in the old town for a half-day to full-day visit.
- Don't miss it if you're interested in Shanxi merchant culture and Shanhaiguan folk traditions.
Tickets Around ¥30 (some online sources list ¥50 instead, so figures are inconsistent across platforms). It's next to the First Pass Under Heaven scenic area, so whether a combo ticket is available should be confirmed on site or through a booking platform; check a site like Ctrip for the day's real-time price before you go.
Hours Roughly 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, with possible seasonal adjustments between peak (May-December) and off-peak hours; one online source cites posted hours of 8:00 AM-5:00 PM from May 4 through December 31.
Frequently asked
Does one ticket cover both Wang Family Courtyard and the First Pass Under Heaven?
They are adjacent but independent attractions; check with the ticketing platform or the on-site box office to see if a combo ticket is available.
What's worth seeing at Wang Family Courtyard?
The Ming- and Qing-dynasty courtyard architecture itself, folk-life scenes displayed across 18 exhibition halls, and a historical exhibit on the Shanxi merchant Wang Sanfo's family.
How much is admission?
Online sources put it between ¥30 and ¥50, with figures inconsistent across sources — check a booking platform for the current price before you go.
Nearby in Shanhaiguan
Planning a visit to Wang Family Courtyard (Shanhaiguan Folk Museum)?
Leave a contact and we will reply with a concrete suggestion. You can also email zhaochenqi@163.com.