Ni's Residence in Xitang

Ni's Residence in Xitang

Ni's Residence is the ancestral home of Ni Tianzeng, former Vice Mayor of Shanghai. It is located south of Shaogang Port and was built during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The overall architecture is simple and understated, exuding no ostentation whatsoever, making it a typical representation of Confucian ideals.

Xitang has five major surnames: Ni, Jiang, Zhu, Bu, and Lu, with the Ni surname ranking first. The Ni family was a scholarly family in the town; Ni Tianzeng’s grandfather was a scholar in the late Qing dynasty. Ni Tianzeng was born in 1937 and served four consecutive terms as Vice Mayor of Shanghai. He was deeply loved by the people. After years of overwork, he unfortunately passed away at the age of 54 due to a myocardial infarction that could not be rescued. Former Premier Zhu Rongji praised him as “a public servant of the people,” “a model of diligence in governance, whose sweat was spilled over Pudong and whose achievements will last for millennia.”

Ni's Residence is a typical example of residential architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It originally had five courtyards, featuring a covered porch in the front and a garden in the back. Currently, only two courtyards have been restored. The last three are still inhabited by local residents and are not open to the public. The first courtyard serves as the entrance hall, where a statue of Ni Tianzeng is displayed. The second courtyard consists of an atrium and the main hall, named “Chengqing Hall.” On either side of the main hall are a music room and a chess room. The upper floor hosts an exhibition of Ni Tianzeng’s personal belongings, along with photographic materials about his life and inscriptions by relevant central leaders.

Address: South Shaogang Street, Xitang Ancient Town, Jiashan County, Jiaxing City (west side of Wufu Bridge)

Type: Historic Residence of a Celebrity

Recommended Visit Duration: About 20 minutes

Opening Hours:

8:00-17:00

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the 100-yuan joint ticket for the Xitang scenic area.

Xitang Town: Xitang, anciently known as Xietang, was established as a market town during the Ming dynasty, bordering Yong’an and Qianshan townships. Initially called Xietang, it later came to be known as Xitang. Legend has it that during the Spring and Autumn period, Wu Zixu stationed troops here and dug Wu Zi Pond to develop water conservancy, bringing water from Xushan Mountain directly into the area—hence it was also called Xutang. Xitang Town is located in the northern part of Jiashan County, at the junction of three provinces and cities (Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Jiangsu), enjoying a geographically advantageous position known as the “Corner of Wu and Yue.” It lies 90 km east of Shanghai, 110 km west of Hangzhou, 85 km north of Suzhou, and 9 km south of Jiashan County seat. The town center is situated at 120°53′ east longitude and 30°56′ north latitude. With both land and water… More detailed information on Xitang Town++