△ Architectural panorama © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ Bookstore © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ The building’s interior and exterior are visually interconnected © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
Background
The Xianfeng Weishan Chongzheng Academy is situated in the western corner of Weishan Ancient City, Dali, Yunnan. Weishan is renowned as the birthplace of Nanzhao culture. With a history spanning over 600 years, the ancient city still preserves the urban layout from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Chongzheng Academy, established during the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty, boasts a history of more than 500 years, having experienced various fluctuations through time.
In 2021, TAO was commissioned by the local government and Pioneer Bookstore to undertake the protection, restoration, and revitalization of Chongzheng Academy. The academy was transformed into a multifunctional Pioneer Bookstore, featuring a bookstore, exhibition spaces, a small theater, and a café. The objective was to revive the site’s historical vitality and cultural spirit, contributing to the urban renewal of Weishan. The project also included urban design for the surrounding area, aiming to create a vibrant lifestyle destination by introducing avant-garde bookstores and other innovative formats, thus driving the area’s urban regeneration.
△ Location analysis © Architectural Firm (TAO)
△ Weishan Ancient City Folk Customs Map Source Network
△ Project location © Architectural Firm (TAO)
Urban Design
Many local residents spent their elementary school years at Chongzheng Academy. The towering 330-year-old banyan tree in front of the academy’s south gate is the largest tree within the county’s urban area. In their youth, people gathered here to cool off, play, and even form bands beneath its branches. Alongside the Ming Dynasty academy and the Qing Dynasty banyan tree, there is also a “young” relic on site: an abandoned 1960s iron factory with intact wooden structures.
Chongzheng Academy and 330-year-old Gaoshan Banyan (left); Iron factory from the 1960s (right) © Architectural Firm (TAO)
The site is strategically located between the ancient city and the new city, offering convenient transportation and increasingly complete surrounding amenities. This makes it an ideal location to inject new energy and stimulate urban vitality. The goal of the redevelopment is to position Pioneer Bookstore as the catalyst, introducing new formats and fostering a fusion of old and new lifestyles. This will create diverse spaces for culture, creativity, coffee, bars, public art, and open markets, connecting the surrounding neighborhoods through vibrant urban life.
Concept sketch © Huali
△ 1:500 Site Model © Architectural Firm (TAO)
△ Urban design concept collage © Architectural Firm (TAO)
This site represents a critical connection between the past and the future. Introducing avant-garde bookstores and new concepts must coexist with the vivid memories of the past. Therefore, preservation and organic renewal of the three key sites—the academy, the banyan tree, and the iron factory—are paramount in the urban design strategy.
The design maintains the historical appearance of Chongzheng Academy and the iron factory, redesigns the tree pond surrounding the ancient trees, and introduces a sunken outdoor courtyard nestled among the trees and the academy. This activates interaction between people and the giant trees. The city square, centered visually on the banyan tree and slightly rotated, becomes the heart of the urban space, linking adjacent city streets and encouraging diverse outdoor activities.
A “city cluster under the framework” concept surrounds the square, featuring continuous folding sloped roofs that echo the scale of old factory roofs. This approach continues the urban texture and architectural language spreading from Weishan Ancient City while maintaining a distinct image from ancient city architecture. The square and covered eaves are envisioned as venues for traditional culture—markets, song and dance performances—and vibrant street life elements like coffee shops and outdoor dining.
Internally, the space supports the diverse spatial and scale requirements of new formats to create a symbiotic environment integrating old and new buildings, tourists and locals, and a variety of cultural activities.
△ General layout plan © Architectural Firm (TAO)
△ City bird’s-eye view © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ The ancient banyan tree at the entrance, over 300 years old © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
Chongzheng Academy / Pioneer Bookstore
Pioneer Bookstore and Chongzheng Academy are united by their shared dedication to books. Chongzheng Academy was among the earliest academies in Yunnan and once held the richest book collection in the region. Historically, Governor Hu Guang transported books from Jiangnan’s central plains to Menghua (previously Weishan) to promote education and enlightenment. Similarly, Pioneer Bookstore came to Yunnan from Jiangsu, bringing books from afar to enrich local culture. This connection embodies a shared spirit of cultural dissemination.
Historical records mention a Guanwen Building here used for book collection, though it no longer exists. Inspired by this legacy, Pioneer Bookstore aims for Pioneer Weishan Chongzheng Academy to regain its status as the largest book collection venue among Pioneer storefronts. Consequently, the presentation of books and the revival of the academy’s spirit are central to the design.
The original appearance of Chongzheng Academy © Architectural Firm (TAO)
The design respects the site’s history and landscape, intervening lightly in historic buildings to preserve the original spatial atmosphere and ancient courtyard trees. It follows principles of authenticity and reversibility, maximizing preservation of old walls and wooden structures.
Key design elements include two floating bookshelves placed along the east-west axis inside, connecting previously scattered functional areas and creating rhythmic transitions between interior and exterior spaces. The central second courtyard now features an open-air theater and resting courtyard around existing trees, with seating on both sides. A new building on the eastern edge creates a book showcase and activity stage facing the city, fostering interaction with the street and revitalizing the academy’s cultural spirit.
Concept sketch © Zhong Sheng
△ Spiritual Tunnel | Library Concept Collage © Architectural Firm (TAO)
△ Reading Poetry and Scenery | Outdoor Theater Concept Collage © Architectural Firm (TAO)
△ Urban Stage | Theater Space Concept Collage © Architectural Firm (TAO)
Book Gallery and Outdoor Theater
The bookstore celebrates the love of books with two 29-meter-long steel-framed book corridors flanking the central courtyard. These corridors house book storage and reading areas, stretching through the east and west courtyards.
△ Exploded axonometric diagram © Architectural Firm (TAO)
△ 1:75 concrete profile model © Architectural Firm (TAO)
△ Book Gallery View © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
The library’s floor plan is divided diagonally, splitting the space into two parts. The inner area gradually narrows horizontally, converging towards a distant visual focal point. This non-parallel layout enhances perspective and depth, creating a “spiritual tunnel” effect of books. The spatial experience contrasts sharply with the surrounding ancient buildings.
Concept sketch © Huali
△ Book Gallery and Additional Construction © Architectural Firm (TAO)
△ Inside the Book Gallery © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
The library’s stepped exterior volume functions as a cultural and creative exhibition stand within the corridor and forms grandstand seating in the courtyard. These grandstands create an open-air theater beneath the trees, providing spaces for reading, socializing, relaxation, and outdoor cultural events. Sitting on the elevated steps also offers a unique vantage point overlooking the academy.
△ Cultural and creative exhibition booths in the hall © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ Cultural and Creative Exhibition Stand and Seating Area © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ Section diagram © Architectural Firm (TAO)
△ Sectional perspective © Architectural Firm (TAO)
Though symmetrically arranged along the axis, the diagonal cuts of the library gradually expand the central courtyard space from west to east. This design both reinforces the east-west central axis of the ancient Chongzheng Academy, reflecting its name “advocating Zhongzheng,” and creates two distinct spatial perspectives when viewed from either direction.
The library connects the east and west courtyards © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
The library’s design not only redefines the academy’s internal spatial layout but also reconnects the surrounding courtyards, main hall, side rooms, and annexes. On rainy days, visitors can move comfortably between the West Hall and the hallway, as well as between the café and reading spaces. Thanks to Weishan’s temperate climate, which is spring-like year-round, the academy lacks a closed climate boundary, intentionally blurring indoor and outdoor limits to maximize openness and fluidity between covered and open-air spaces.
Walking through the academy, shifting between the library and ancient buildings, the scenery changes with every step, offering a rich spatial journey that blends ancient and modern experiences akin to wandering through a garden.
Blurred boundaries between indoors and outdoors © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ The library connects the side rooms © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
Ear room view towards the library © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ Café © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
The library’s construction honors reversibility, employing a lightweight steel structure. Columns are placed in the courtyard and suspended above the ancient building corridors, preserving all ancient trees. The fusion of native ancient trees and the book galleries creates a unique interior landscape.
△ Outside the library © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
A Floating Bookstore © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ Inside the Book Gallery © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ Sectional perspective © Architectural Firm (TAO)
Additional Section – Urban Interface and Spatial Nesting
The easternmost addition to the academy marks the climax of the central axis space. Positioned at the terminus of the east-west axis, it serves both as the end of the spatial sequence and the beginning of the city-street connection. Traditional academies are typically introverted and closed to the outside, but the renovated Pioneer Academy aims to engage with the city, showcasing its interior changes and attracting visitors.
This new section acts as the academy’s urban interface, the only outward-facing part, making it a vital node connecting the building’s interior with the city streets.
Concept sketch © Huali
△ 1:75 concrete profile model © Architectural Firm (TAO)
△ Street View © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
Considering the building’s floor elevation and its functions, the space is divided vertically into two parts: the upper portion houses an indoor theater, the largest activity space, with tiered seating offering views of the ancient city; the lower portion is a semi-sunken bookstore display area, accessible by steps and ramps on both sides.
View towards the indoor theater from the courtyard © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
Indoor theater © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ Second floor viewing platform © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ Stairs © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
The semi-sunken area features extensive floor-to-ceiling glass, creating a street-facing facade that visually connects the building’s interior and exterior. This breaks the traditional inward-facing pattern of ancient academies. Passersby can easily view the colorful book displays and interior design, making the bookstore a vibrant showcase and a stage for community activities, fostering interaction with the city.
View towards the semi-sunken street-facing space © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ The building’s interior and exterior are visually interconnected © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
Half-sunken book display area © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
The sinking design not only adds spatial variation but also respects geological changes — the ground level during the Ming Dynasty was notably lower than today. Architecture here embodies a dialogue with earth and time. This Ming Dynasty academy renovation pays homage to history through its layered spatial design.
△ Longitudinal section diagram © Architectural Firm (TAO)
Half-sunken book display area © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
The new addition harmonizes with the old building, carefully balancing modern design with the city’s historic architectural style. After exploring various concepts, the final design adopts a “pavilion within a pavilion” approach. The interior pavilion features an upward-opening cylindrical form housing the indoor theater, while the exterior pavilion uses a traditional herringbone sloped roof that connects with the surrounding ancient flush gable tile roofs, creating a continuous, harmonious architectural silhouette.
Handmade models at 1:30 scale © Architectural Firm (TAO)
The nested interior and exterior pavilions create unique gap spaces, enriching visual relationships and spatial tension within the building.
△ Two-layered nested structure inside and outside the pavilion © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ Gap space © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ Additional long sections © Architectural Firm (TAO)
△ Additional short sections © Architectural Firm (TAO)
The cylindrical volume of the inner “cabinet” is segmented and lifted to form a horseshoe-shaped theater inside. The outer pavilion, wrapped by a traditional roof, responds to the urban streetscape with gable roof buildings featuring wooden rafters and tile roofs. Structurally, the traditional roof is supported by wood-grain concrete walls and steel beams of the inner cabinet, creating a top-down visual reversal of forces, as if the roof is floating mid-air—challenging traditional architectural norms.
△ Exploded axonometric diagram © Architectural Firm (TAO)
View towards the Cabinet on the second floor © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
Half-sunken book display area © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
The primary load-bearing element of the two-story addition is a wall-shaped beam extending from the shear wall. A large beam supports the overhanging two-story platform, while concrete inclined columns jointly support the platform and roof, forming an inseparable load-bearing system.
△ Structural analysis diagram © Architectural Firm (TAO)
Handmade models at 1:30 scale © Architectural Firm (TAO)
△ Gap space © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
△ Street perspective © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
Externally, the floating gable roof matches the main hall in size, with two flat roofs extended on either side at the height of the main hall’s side rooms, enclosing two side courtyards. This continuity maintains the rhythm and layout of the ancient architectural forms and courtyard arrangement.
Handmade models at 1:30 scale © Architectural Firm (TAO)
View towards the courtyard of the side rooms © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
Material-wise, except for the roof construction, the new parts utilize steel-concrete structures. The gray tone of the plain wood formwork concrete aligns with the color of the ancient building walls. The concrete surfaces are imprinted with staggered 6cm-wide camphor pine boards, creating a small-scale wood texture that softens the concrete’s inherent hardness and coldness, providing warmth and intimacy.
After over two years of design and construction, the Xianfeng Weishan Chongzheng Academy officially reopened at the end of 2023. The 500-year-old historic building has re-entered urban life as a new landmark and destination in Weishan. The bookstore draws visitors daily, while the banyan tree’s pond and the square’s reflective pool serve as popular local gathering spots.
Since opening, the bookstore has hosted numerous poetry readings, literary events, music performances, and exhibitions. In this way, the ancient academy, once a beacon of cultural enlightenment, has been reborn like a phoenix, continuing to shape Weishan’s cultural and daily life.
△ Street View © Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
Project Drawings
△ First floor plan © Architectural Firm (TAO)
Project Information
Project Name: Xianfeng Weishan Chongzheng Academy
Owner: Pioneer Bookstore, Weishan Cultural and Tourism Bureau
Location: Weishan County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province
Features: Bookstore, Exhibition
Design Firm: TAO Architectural Firm
Lead Architect: Hua Li
Design Team: Huali, Zhong Sheng, Zhang Peng, Wang Langhuan, He Yuanxi, Yang Huiru
Structural Engineers: Ma Zhigang, Zhao Xiaolei, Liao Yubiao, Ma Yujie
Mechanical & Electrical Design: Lv Jianjun and KCLIN Carlin; Mechanical & Electrical Design: Sun Jing, Li Xin
Construction Team: Yunnan Xizhou Construction Engineering Co., Ltd., Weishan Hongji Construction and Installation Co., Ltd.
Building Area: 1,384 square meters
Structural System: Traditional wooden structure, steel structure, reinforced concrete structure
Design Period: January 2022 – March 2023
Construction Period: May 2022 – December 2023
Photography: Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
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