Former Site of the British Embassy in the Republic of China

Former Site of the British Embassy in the Republic of China

The Former Site of the British Embassy in the Republic of China is a cultural heritage conservation unit of Jiangsu Province.

The British Embassy is located at No. 185 Hujuku North Road, Gulou District, and now houses the Nanjing Shuangmenlou Hotel. A protective stele inside the compound bears the inscription “Former Site of the British Embassy in the Republic of China.”

In June 1935, Britain upgraded its legation in China to an embassy, appointing Minister Gerald Cadogan as ambassador. In 1946, Stephen was appointed ambassador. The embassy site remained unchanged. In 1950, the embassy moved to Beijing and the site was later used as a residence and reception center for Soviet experts and students; in 1953, it was used by the Reception Office of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government; and from 1958 onward, it has been used by the Shuangmenlou Hotel.

The British Embassy buildings were constructed in the 1920s, designed by British architects. Covering an area of approximately 29 mu, the complex included nine two-story Western-style buildings with 17 rooms and ten single-story Western-style structures with 56 rooms, totaling a construction area of 5,456 square meters. After 1949, most of the buildings were demolished due to road widening and other reasons. Only one office building and one residential building remain today.

The office building, also known as Building No. 1, is a British classical-style structure with an elegant and imposing design. Its main entrance faces south and is two stories high, built with brick-concrete structure, and covers an area of about 950 square meters. The office building is situated on a high platform, featuring a Western classical columned façade. The steps are made of bluestone, and the upper part of the colonnade is designed with wide drip edges adorned with molded patterns. The corners of the building have a design of three supporting columns. The interior of the office building is exquisitely decorated and fully equipped, with a central hallway and a sunken skylight window at the intersection.

The residential building resembles a European countryside villa, constructed with a brick-and-wood structure. It has two stories, covering an area of about 750 square meters. The walls are finished with dark brown pebble mortar, the roof is covered with red tiles, and it features round arch doors with iron flower stands beneath the windows. The entrance has a columned porch, and the interior follows an inner-corridor layout with a staircase in the middle leading to the top floor.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Heritage Conservation Units of Jiangsu Province