Qiao Guifa

Qiao Guifa was the founder of the famous Qiao family, the largest and richest family house in Shanxi. Being an orphan, Qiao made a living working as a servant but determined to succeed in life he turned to trade. The Shanxi province was adjacent to the Great Wall which represented the natural barrier between the agricultural communities and the grazing nomadic tribes. The shrewd and capable merchants could made great profits in the business of exchange of goods between the two communities. Qiao made his wealth in trading of tofu and tea beyond the Great Wall. Using his wealth, in 1755 Qiao started to build the famous family mansion, Qiao Jia Dayuan. During the following generations the mansion was enlarged reaching the present size of 8724 square meters with 313 rooms and 20 courtyards.