Zhang Peilun’s Residence

Zhang Peilun’s Residence

Zhang Peilun’s Residence was built in 1912 and is also known as the “Young Lady’s Mansion.” It is said that Li Hongzhang’s daughter once lived here. Zhang Peilun was Li Hongzhang’s son-in-law and served as a Hanlin academician lecturer. He was not only talented but also upright and outspoken. However, his official career was not smooth—during the Sino-French War, he was appointed military governor of Fujian and was exiled after the disastrous naval defeat. Four years later, he caught the eye of Li Hongzhang, who brought him into his household as an aide. By then, Zhang Peilun was over forty, having lost two wives, yet Li Hongzhang held him in high regard and even betrothed his 23-year-old youngest daughter to him. Six years later, Zhang Peilun was impeached and expelled from Beijing. After arriving in Nanjing, he purchased this large residence on Baixia Road, which originally had three buildings, though only one remains today. In 1928, the Republican government established an office in this building.

This is also a residence cherished by Eileen Chang. Eileen Chang was Zhang Peilun’s granddaughter. Although her father had moved to Shanghai before she was born and she never lived here, Eileen Chang mentioned this old house multiple times in her book “A Chronicle of Changing Scenes”: “My grandmother’s marriage could be considered a happy one; she built a large garden in Nanjing where they lived in seclusion, indulging in poetry and wine…” Her words reveal a deep longing and attachment to the old residence.

On December 19, 2011, the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government designated it as part of the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural heritage protection units.

Mianxieying Community: Mianxieying Community is located in the old urban area of the southeastern part of the city, covering an area of 0.26 square kilometers. It borders the Inner Qinhuai River to the east, connects to Malu Street to the west, starts from the Dazhong Bridge on Baixia Road to the south, and extends to Changfu Street to the north. It is a primarily residential area consisting mostly of older neighborhoods with few institutional units and high population density. The community currently has a total of 2,406 households, 2,682 permanent households, a total population of 6,507, and 7,335 permanent residents, along with 276 party members, making it a medium-sized community.

The community closely follows the management philosophy of “innovative development and distinctive growth”; it closely integrates with the actual conditions of the community, building upon the original “courtyard deliberation system…” More details about Mianxieying Community ++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units