The Da Fu Grand House is the architectural centrepiece of Xidi, a Ming dynasty merchant's compound whose carved plum blossom screens and latticed partitions represent Huizhou decorative woodcarving at its most accomplished. The main hall opens through a sequence of carved screens that frame and reframe the view of the courtyard beyond, creating a layered spatial experience that is entirely deliberate — the house was designed to be seen, and the sequence of spaces was choreographed to build an impression of refinement and prosperity.
The courtyard at the center receives filtered light that illuminates the carved surfaces without exposing them to direct sun. The upper gallery runs around three sides, its balustrade carved with continuous patterns that reward close examination. The scale is domestic rather than monumental — this is a family house, not a palace — which makes the quality of the carving even more striking. Most visitors spend twenty to thirty minutes here; the house repays longer attention.