Former Site of T. V. Soong’s Residence

Former Site of T. V. Soong’s Residence

The Former Site of T. V. Soong’s Residence is a cultural tourism attraction.

Former Site of T. V. Soong’s Residence

Deep in the lush greenery atop Chicken Cage Hill at Beiji Pavilion, nestled among trees, stands a Western-style country house — the widely renowned former residence of T. V. Soong.

T. V. Soong’s Residence is located at No. 1 Beiji Pavilion. It was initially built in 1933 during Soong’s tenure as Minister of Finance in the Nationalist Government and was reconstructed after the victory of the War of Resistance. The residence was designed by architect Yang Tingbao, with a construction area of 720 square meters. The three-story building features a reinforced concrete structure and an L-shaped floor plan. Built against the hillside, the building follows the contours of the land, creating a dynamic and well-arranged silhouette.

The ground floor of the residence is constructed with rough stone, giving it a very solid appearance. The upper two floors are made of brick, with a textured finish applied to the surface, creating a strong three-dimensional effect. The most distinctive feature of the residence is its roof, which has a distinctly rustic charm and looks from afar as if it were thatched, hence its nickname “the Thatched Cottage.” In reality, the roof was constructed using imported white cement mixed with yellow sand, laid over reeds in three layers, each about 2 centimeters thick. The top layer was designed with a honeycomb pattern, creating the illusion of thatch. This unique roofing method offers benefits such as heat insulation, fire resistance, and waterproofing, while also helping to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature year-round — a perfect blend of aesthetics and practicality.

The entrance to the residence is located on the northwest side of the second floor. The interior is lavishly decorated with varied furnishings, featuring a mix of Western and Chinese styles. The ground floor houses the guards’ quarters, kitchen, and auxiliary rooms; the second floor includes a reception room, dining room, and study; the third floor contains the living quarters of T. V. Soong and his wife,

as well as the bedrooms, bathrooms, and washrooms for their children. The horizontal beams on the interior ceiling may appear to be wooden, but they are actually finely crafted from cement — a rare feature in domestic architecture.

In its heyday, this was not only T. V. Soong’s residence but also a secret meeting place for key figures. Many significant decisions and strategies were formulated here. Especially after the shocking Xi’an Incident on December 12, 1936, when Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng detained Chiang Kai-shek, the residence became a hub of activity. High-ranking officials and dignitaries came and went in haste, eventually forming a pro-peace political faction centered around the Soong sisters, which stood in opposition to the pro-pursuit faction led by He Yingqin. On December 20 and 22 of the same year, T. V. Soong made two trips to Xi’an to meet with Chiang Kai-shek and mediate, ultimately facilitating the peaceful resolution of the Xi’an Incident.

Dozens of meters northeast of the residence stands a classical-style two-story building connected to it by stone steps. This was where Chiang Kai-shek imprisoned the patriotic general Zhang Xueliang, commonly referred to as the “Zhang Detention House.” After the Xi’an Incident, Zhang escorted Chiang, Soong, and T. V. Soong back to Nanjing. Upon disembarking from the plane, Chiang reneged on his word and detained Zhang. The move shocked the nation and plunged the land into sorrow. On December 31, the Nationalist Government in Nanjing organized a military tribunal to try Zhang, sentencing him to 10 years in prison. He was subsequently transferred to a detention facility in the eastern suburbs. On January 4, 1938, the Nationalist Government issued a “special amnesty,” though he remained under strict military control. Through the persuasion of Soong and T. V. Soong, Zhang was moved to T. V. Soong’s residence — hence the origin of the name “Zhang Detention House.”