Zhou Residence on Jiaotong Street

Zhou Residence on Jiaotong Street

The Zhou Residence on Jiaotong Street is a cultural heritage site protected by the Suzhou Municipal Government.

Zhou Residence on Jiaotong Street

Located on Jiaotong Street in the urban area and inhabited by residents surnamed Zhou, the residence consists of one entry courtyard and two courtyards. At the entrance, there is a pair of carved stone door piers adorned with auspicious designs including qilins, sika deer, plants, gourds, and clouds. Behind them is a brick-carved gate tower. The front of the gate tower bears no decorative patterns, but the rear carvings are largely intact. The central beam above the gate is inscribed with four bold regular-script characters, "Qing Xie You Ning" (Celebrating Harmony and Peace), written by Yan Chaobiao, a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations during the Qing Qianlong era. Beneath the characters are over a hundred rows of powerful semi-cursive script text. The surrounding area is also embellished with bas-reliefs of flowers, birds, plum blossoms, and bamboo. Between the two courtyards behind the gate tower lies an enclosed "回" (Chinese character for “return”) shaped building, measuring 8.73 meters in width across three bays and 16.65 meters in depth spanning seven roof frames. The wooden staircase, doors, windows, flooring, and walls have all been renewed. It was designated as a cultural heritage site protected by the Changshu Municipal Government in June 2009.