The Former Residence of the Xu Family, Salt Merchants

The Former Residence of the Xu Family, Salt Merchants

The Former Residence of the Xu Family, Salt Merchants, is a cultural heritage site protected at the municipal level in Yangzhou.

The Former Residence of the Xu Family, Salt Merchants

Located at No. 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, and 100 Dingjiawan, it was built in the late Qing Dynasty by Xu Rongji. Xu Rongji (1865–1932), courtesy name Yunfu, was originally from Xucun in She County, Anhui Province. During the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, he established the "Qianyiyong Salt Firm" in Yangzhou. In the early years of the Republic of China, he served as the president of the Yangzhou Food Merchants' Guild. Known for his philanthropy, he opened the "Zhujitang" pharmacy and soup kitchens to help the public, and donated funds for bridge construction. His grandson, Xu Guoping, once worked at the University of Maryland in the United States. Later, together with his wife Jiang Lijin and Qian Xuesen, he returned to China to dedicate himself to scientific research. He and his wife became academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, respectively. The residence faces south and covers an area of approximately 3,000 square meters. The buildings consist of five parallel sections along an east-west axis. The first section features a gray-brick gate tower and a Fu Shrine at the front, followed by a three-courtyard residential block at the rear. The second section includes a flower hall, guest rooms, and miscellaneous rooms. The third section has five courtyards in total — the first three are all halls, while the fourth and fifth are two-story buildings, each with three rooms and two side wings. The fourth section also has three courtyards, with the first being a hall, and the other two being two-story buildings, each with three rooms and two side wings. The fifth section has five courtyards — the first is a single-story building with four bays, the second is a roll-roofed hall, and the rest are two-story buildings, each with three rooms and two side wings, all featuring external corridors. This architectural complex is large in scale and relatively well preserved.

Further Reading:

· List of the Fourth Batch of Municipal Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Yangzhou