Qiushui Villa   Cheng Lu   Chiang Ching-kuo’s former residence   Hu Xueyan’s former residence   Yu Qian’s former residence   Yu Lou   Ling Fengmian's former residence   John L Stuart’s former residence   

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.

 

 

 

 

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