Shen Danchen’s Residence

Shen Danchen’s Residence

Shen Danchen’s Residence (No. 196, Yuhang Street)

It is located in Qianqiziwei. Facing south, it was built during the Republican era and consists of three sections with a total of 39 rooms covering an area of 754 square meters.

The first section of Shen Danchen’s Residence is a five-bay single-story house, the second is a five-bay two-story building, and the third is a four-bay three-story building, with some additional rooms in the middle and to the north. The easternmost room of the first section has a service alley for access. The entrance to the alley is a small stone gate, the middle section features a wall gate room, and the exterior has a large stone gate. There are two stone-paved courtyards between the three sections of the house, each with a gate tower on the south side, although the carvings on the towers have now disappeared. The first two sections are built in imitation of Qing Dynasty architecture. In front of the building in the second section, there is a covered porch with floral and flower basket carvings, and the brackets are carved in the shape of bamboo branches. There are also a few wooden carvings inside the rooms. The third section is a three-story building that blends Chinese and Western styles. The difference in floor level between the interior and the courtyard is over one meter, and access is via a flight of five stone steps. Each room has a circular ventilation opening beneath the floorboards. The walls are finished in exposed brick, and the window and door openings feature brick arches. The walls are as thick as 50 centimeters, and the interiors have clay-plastered ceilings.

When Shen Danchen’s Residence was first built, it was used as lodging for travelers. In the early years after liberation, it was occupied by administrative units such as the local street office and tax office. In 1956, it came under the management of the housing authority. During the housing reforms in 1970, it was listed for confiscation. In 1980, seven rooms totaling 163 square meters in Nandai were returned. The entire Shen Danchen’s Residence remained public housing. In 1981, it was transferred to the county Industrial and Commercial Bank for the establishment of the Tongli branch. In 1990, with approval from the county authorities, a housing exchange was arranged, designating the 2nd and 3rd floors of the third section as retained housing consisting of eight rooms totaling 163 square meters, and the Nandai rooms were reclaimed. After the retention arrangement, the private residence continued to be rented to the Industrial and Commercial Bank. In 2000, after the bank branch relocated, the property was taken over by the Yuhang Street Neighborhood Committee, and in 2002, it became community space for Yuhang Community.