Former Residence of Hu Xueyan



This Former Residence of Hu Xueyan, which lies in Hangzhou City of Zhejiang Province, was built in
the 11th year (1872) of the reign of Emperor Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty at enormous expense, floor
area more than 5800 square meter.

The former residence boasts 13 towers, Zhiyuan Garden, pavilions, terraces, a small bridge over a
flowing stream and bright verandas, all ingeniously designed. The rockery in the Zhiyuan Garden is
the largest artificial karst cave in China. The splendid house, an excellent example of late Qing
Dynasty architecture, was built using a great quantity of high-grade timber, such as red sandalwood,
ginkgo, hoop pine and Chinese beech.

Hu Xueyan (1823-1885), a local celebrity, one of the richest and most famous businessmen in Qing
Dynasty. He started his business under the Governor Wang Youling’s support, in the fields as food, real estate, hock, weapon, silk, medicine; after
his success, he donated much money and helped a lot to the Qing government. Because of this relationship, Hu was renowned in the country and
was called Hongding merchant. His legendary life was mostly related with the destiny of late Qing dynasty. In 1872, Hu Xueyan spent 100,000 liang
silver to build a house at the very prosperous site in Hangzhou – Hefang Street.

The house was Chinese style, with many pavilions, booths, bridges, rockeries, but bigger and more luxurious: ingenious brick engraves, wood
engraves, stone graves scattered many where; many high class trees like purple sandalwood, gingko decorated the courtyard. The whole
architecture was artfully designed and distributed, and considered the No. 1 house owned by merchant in late Qing Dynasty.

Former residence of cliff of introduced from the northern and western nationalities or from abroad
snow arrives from the building indoor furniture furnishings, with the fastidious of makings, can calls
China of clear minor details huge trade the first curtilage. 　

The work of calligraphy carved stone that there still is the famous expert such as Dong Jichang,
Zheng Banqiao, Tang Baihu, Wen Zhengming inside former residence, among them two infrequent
annatto official litter are worth to look.