Former Residence of Wang Huzhen

Former Residence of Wang Huzhen

The former residence of Wang Huzhen is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The former residence of Wang Huzhen is located at No. 39 Fanluobang, downtown Jiaxing. It was the home of the renowned water conservancy expert Mr. Wang Huzhen. Wang Huzhen (1897–1989), courtesy name Wofu and art name Rong’an, was a native of Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province. He was a distinguished modern water conservancy engineering expert in China and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 1934, while serving as the chief engineer of the Grand Canal Improvement Discussion Conference, he personally surveyed the Grand Canal from Hangzhou to Beijing. In just one and a half years, he completed the compilation of the book "Plan for the Improvement of the Grand Canal Project." He was a scholar who made significant contributions to the improvement of the canal system in modern and contemporary China.

In 1928, when Wang Huzhen was appointed as the deputy chief engineer of the Taihu Lake Water Conservancy Project Office, he purchased four acres of land east of Fanluobang and built a small house to provide for his mother’s retirement. It was destroyed during the Anti-Japanese War. It was rebuilt in 1948 as a Western-style single-story residence named “Lakeside Cottage,” known for its garden landscaping. The current building has an overall “I” shaped layout, facing south, covering a construction area of 480 square meters. It features a brick-and-wood structure with Western-style roof tiles. There are two sections, front and back. The northern section has three bays: an inner study, an outer study, and a living room. The southern section has four bays: bedrooms and a bathroom. The living room connects the north and south sections, with gardens on the eastern and western sides. Southwest of the residence is a building (commonly known as the Gaoping House), which belonged to Wang Huzhen’s brothers. Built in 1936, it once served as the headquarters for the Japanese invasion of Jiaxing.

In January 2011, it was announced as part of the sixth batch of cultural relic protection units of Zhejiang Province.

Wang Huzhen (July 12, 1897 – October 13, 1989), a water conservancy expert from Jiaxing, Zhejiang. Graduated from Nanjing Communications Institute of Technology in 1917, earned a master's degree from Cornell University in the United States in 1923. He served as an advisor to the Ministry of Water Resources and as a first-class engineer. He presided over and participated in the development of the “Huai River Diversion Project Plan” and the “Improvement Plan for the North-South Grand Canal.” Personally surveyed the Grand Canal from Hangzhou to Beijing, designed the ship locks at Shaobo, Huaiyin, and Suqian, and led the restoration project of the Qiantang River seawall. He also edited and published one of the earliest large-scale specialized reference books, "Chinese Engineering…" More details about Wang Huzhen++

Ziyang Community: Located in the city center of Jiaxing, Ziyang Community under Jianshe Subdistrict is an open, old community integrating commerce, finance, healthcare, and residential functions. It borders Jianguo Road to the east, the city moat to the south, Hexing Road to the west, and Zhongshan Road to the north. The community covers an area of 0.7 square kilometers, with 2,621 households and a total population of 8,384, including 2,308 non-local residents. There are 308 registered party members, organized into 8 branches, including one “Two-New Youth Branch,” and 28 resident groups. The population aged 60 and above is 1,594, with 320 aged 80 and above. There are 12 collaborative units in the jurisdiction, with 74... More details about Ziyang Community++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Zhejiang Province