Former Residence of T. V. Soong

Former Residence of T. V. Soong

The former residence of T. V. Soong is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

The former residence of T. V. Soong is located at No. 1 Beiji Ge, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province.

Originally built in 1933 during T. V. Soong’s tenure as the Minister of Finance in the Nationalist Government, the building was reconstructed after the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan. Designed by architect Yang Tingbao of the Kwan, Chu and Yang Engineering Company and constructed by the Tao Fuji Construction Firm, the residence covers a construction area of 720 square meters. The three-story building features a reinforced concrete structure with an L-shaped floor plan. Built against the hillside, it presents a well-arranged and terraced appearance. The ground floor is constructed with rough stone, giving it a very solid appearance; the upper two floors are made of brick, with their surfaces finished using a spray-texture technique that creates a strong three-dimensional effect. The most distinctive feature of the residence is its roof, which has a rustic, farmhouse-like charm—when viewed from afar, it looks as if it were thatched, hence its nickname “the Thatched Cottage.” The entrance to the residence is located on the northwest side of the second floor. The interior is lavishly decorated with varied furnishings, featuring both Western-style arrangements and traditional Chinese elements.

The residence served not only as the living quarters for T. V. Soong’s entire family but also as a frequent meeting place for high-ranking members of the Kuomintang. On December 12, 1936, following the Xi'an Incident, the site became a hub of activity, bustling with notable figures and frequent confidential meetings. For a time, the flow of people and vehicles was constant. On December 20 and 22 of the same year, T. V. Soong flew to Xi’an twice to meet with Chiang Kai-shek, mediating the situation and facilitating a peaceful resolution to the Xi'an Incident. On December 25, Chiang Kai-shek, T. V. Soong, Soong Mei-ling, and Hugh Dowding, accompanied by General Zhang Xueliang, flew out of Xi’an and arrived safely in Nanjing the following day. As a result, T. V. Soong earned Chiang Kai-shek’s deep trust. In stark contrast, after escorting Chiang and his party back to Nanjing on December 26, Zhang Xueliang was betrayed by Chiang, who had him placed under house arrest in T. V. Soong’s residence upon disembarking, guarded by heavily armed soldiers. On December 31, the Nationalist Government convened a high military tribunal to try Zhang Xueliang, sentencing him to 10 years in prison. He was then transferred to the Kung Hsiang-hsi Villa within the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum grounds for detention. From that point on, General Zhang Xueliang began a long and tragic period of house arrest.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangsu Province