Former Residence of Hu Bijiang

Former Residence of Hu Bijiang

The former residence of Hu Bijiang is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

Former Residence of Hu Bijiang

Located within Beizhou Middle School in Shatou Town, Guangling District, Yangzhou, it was originally built in 1921, covering an area of nearly 8,000 square meters with a construction area of 2,500 square meters. The complex consists of seven courtyards, two side wings, and a small building, totaling over a hundred rooms, commonly referred to as "Ninety-Nine and a Half Rooms." The residence is divided into two sections: the main southern family house and the secondary northern family house. With its grand scale and unique style, it is a representative building of the Yangtze River embankment farmland area in Yangzhou. The former residence of Hu Bijiang is a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit, a famous person’s former residence in Jiangsu Province, and a base for patriotic education.

Hu Bijiang, whose given name was ?, courtesy name Bijiang, was born in April 1881 in Hujia Dun, Jiangdu County (now Shatou Town, Guangling District, Yangzhou). In his youth, Hu was diligent and received a solid traditional education. In 1889, he became an apprentice at Yulongyuan Money Shop in Jiangyan Town. In 1900, he worked as a clerk at Yishanyuan Bank in Xian’nianmiao, Yangzhou. Through several years of experience, he gained valuable knowledge in the financial industry. Later, he met Li Hongzhang’s son and many other notable figures. Soon after, he was introduced to work at the Beijing branch of the Bank of Communications as an investigative officer. He was later promoted through the ranks—from head office auditor and deputy manager of the Beijing branch to manager of the Beijing branch in 1914. Under his leadership, operations became well-organized, business boomed, and achievements were remarkable. In 1921, he left the Bank of Communications and partnered with Nanyang tycoon Huang Yizhu to establish the China & South Sea Bank. The bank officially opened on July 5, 1921, with Huang Yizhu as chairman and Hu Bijiang as general manager. After the joint operation of the Four Northern Banks, Hu served as director of the Joint Reserve Warehouse. In 1933, when the Bank of Communications underwent reorganization again, Hu was appointed chairman by Song Ziwen. In July 1937, when the Shanghai Anti-Enemy Support Association was established, Hu became one of its committee members. On August 12, Hu Bijiang gave a speech on a Shanghai radio station, mobilizing patriots to respond to donation appeals. Leading by example, he supported the war effort financially and materially. In 1938, while flying from Hong Kong to Chongqing at the invitation of the Nationalist Government’s Ministry of Finance, his plane was suddenly attacked and shot down by Japanese aircraft over Guangdong, resulting in his tragic death. After Hu’s death, Mao Zedong and Zhu De sent elegiac couplets in mourning, calling him a “financial magnate.” Dong Biwu, representing the Communist Party of China, attended his grand memorial service held in Wuhan. Upon hearing the news, Chiang Kai-shek also sent condolences to the family, and the Nationalist Government posthumously recognized him as a martyr. In 1939, Hu Bijiang’s remains were buried in Hong Kong.

Hu Bijiang was a legendary figure in China’s financial circle. To strengthen the protection of his former residence, in 2001, under the guidance of the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau, Yangzhou carried out emergency repairs on parts of the walls and the entire roof of the southern family house, adhering to the principle of preserving the original state of the relic. This effectively prevented the collapse of the buildings. In 2007, the southern family house of the former residence of Hu Bijiang was included in the first batch of ten provincial-level rescue and preservation projects for famous residences and ancient folk houses in Jiangsu Province. In 2008, it was listed as a key project in the construction of Yangzhou’s Cultural and Museum City. On March 18, 2008, the restoration of the southern family house was completed. The renovated southern house now hosts an exhibition on Hu Bijiang’s life and achievements. Provincial cultural relics authorities praised its distinctive architectural style during the inspection, and the well-preserved screen wall particularly amazed the experts. Given the cultural and historical value of the former residence, in 2011, the northern family house was included in the third batch of Jiangsu Province’s rescue and preservation projects for famous residences and ancient folk houses, as well as follow-up projects in the construction of Yangzhou’s Cultural and Museum City. Compared to the southern house, the over 1,000-square-meter northern house posed no less of a challenge for restoration, with almost all of its roof framework damaged. “The renovation of the northern house still adhered to the principle of ‘no change to the original state,’ ensuring a ‘restoration that makes the old look new.’ Through urgent repairs, potential hazards were eliminated, while infrastructure and safety facilities were improved. Particularly, the roof was entirely covered with the original blue tiles, thus preserving and continuing the residence’s architectural style. The back garden of the Hu Bijiang former residence, covering 1,750 square meters, is a highlight of the entire compound and a focal point of this renovation project. It mainly includes river channel improvement, bamboo grove restoration, and lawn greening. The entire renovation project was completed in 2012, and the former residence has now become a unique local landmark.

Hu Bijiang (1881–1938), originally named Minxian, courtesy name Yun, also known as Bijiang (used as his name) and alternatively as Pijiang, was from Zhongxingzhou, Jiangdu County (now Hudun Village, Shatou Township, Hanjiang District, Yangzhou). He was a financier. At age 18, he apprenticed at a small money shop in Jiangyan Town, Tai County. After completing his apprenticeship three years later, he worked as a clerk at Yishanyuan Bank in Xian’nianmiao, Jiangdu. In the second year of the Xuantong era (1910), he went to Beijing with a friend. He first worked as a clerk at the Public Welfare Bank and soon joined the Beijing branch of the Bank of Communications. Gifted in speech and especially familiar with banking operations, he earned the appreciation of Liang Shiyi, the manager of the Bank of Communications, and was soon promoted to... [Detailed information about Hu Bijiang++]

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangsu Province