Former Residence of Hu Shiyu

Former Residence of Hu Shiyu

The former residence of Hu Shiyu is a cultural heritage site protected by Suzhou Municipality.

The former residence of Hu Shiyu is located at No. 1 Zhangan East Road, Penglang Town. In the late Ming Dynasty, Hu Shiyu’s ancestors migrated from Huizhou, Anhui to Penglang Town, where they engaged in commerce for generations and built a sizable residence on North Street.

The Hu Shiyu Memorial Hall, located at No. 1 Zhangan East Road in Penglang Town, has a total area of about 200 square meters. While maintaining the original look of the former residence, it has added exhibition and collection functions. This allows visitors not only to step into the living environment of Mr. Hu during his lifetime but also to deeply experience the spirit of Hu Shiyu — “patriotic, erudite, frugal, and supremely filial.”

Hu Shiyu (1868–1939), given name Yun, courtesy name Jiesheng, was known by his pseudonym. He also used other aliases such as Shi Weng, Xuan Bo, Shou He, Bu Yi, Dan Li, Lao Po, and Xian Zhu Ren. A native of Penglang, Kunshan, he was born on the 16th day of the third lunar month in the seventh year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (April 8, 1868). A poet, he was regarded as one of the “Three Great Confucian Scholars of Jiangnan” alongside Qian Mingshan of Wujin and Gao Chuiwan of Jinshan. He was a scholar (xiucai) in the late Qing Dynasty. In his early years, he ran a private school in his hometown. From the 33rd year of the Guangxu reign (1907) onwards, he taught at Suzhou Provincial Second Middle School (commonly known as “Caoqiao Middle School,” now Suzhou No. 1 Middle School) for over 20 years. He had numerous students, many of whom went on to become … More details about Hu Shiyu ++