Zhang Garden

Zhang Garden

Zhang Garden is a cultural tourism attraction.

Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, lived in Zhang Garden and Jing Garden from 1925 to 1931.

Zhang Garden is a luxurious Western classical-style residence. The main building faces west and is built with brick and wood. It is connected to a Western-style bungalow that faces north, forming a T-shaped grand living room. A corner tower juts out at the northwest corner of the building. The exterior wall base and window and door frames are finished with cement stone, featuring multiple horizontal moldings. The wall itself is made of exposed red bricks. The building is surrounded by corridors, and the courtyard includes pavilions, rockeries, and a lotus pond. A pool was dug to channel water, and flowers and plants were transplanted. It was originally named "Luxiang Garden," but because it was the residence of Zhang Biao, it became commonly known as "Zhang Garden."

On February 24, 1925, the lunar date of "Dragon Raises Its Head," Puyi escaped from Beijing’s Qianmen Railway Station in disguise, escorted by the Japanese consul general, police chief, and plainclothes agents, and fled to Tianjin. After disembarking, he was welcomed by Tsuruta Shigeru, the Japanese consul general in Tianjin, and temporarily stayed at the Yamato Hotel in the Japanese concession before later renting Zhang Garden. Empress Wanrong and Concubine Wenxiu, fearing that traveling with Puyi at the time would draw too much attention and be discovered by the authorities, arrived later.

In Zhang Garden, Puyi and Wanrong lived on the second floor, while Wenxiu stayed in a room to the south of the downstairs living room. At the time, many former Qing officials and loyalists in Tianjin came to pay their respects, such as Zhang Renjun, former Viceroy of Liangjiang; Tie Liang, former Minister of Revenue, Minister of War, and Grand Secretary; Lü Haihuan, former Minister of Works, Minister of War, and Minister of Foreign Affairs; as well as Hua Shikui, Liu Jiachen, and Zhu Yifan, who visited frequently. Former Guangdong Navy Admiral Li Zhun “offered” his mother-of-pearl-inlaid hardwood furniture for Puyi’s use. Luo Zhenyu, Zheng Xiaoxu, Zhu Ruzhen, and Prince Zaotao, among others, waited daily in the garden. Various attendants, former officials, journalists, and others flocked to the pavilions and towers in the garden, making the once quiet and rarely visited villa exceptionally lively. In addition, to provide better lodging for Puyi’s attendants and staff, Zhang Biao built four connected bungalows on the right side of the garden for their use. He also purchased one of the newly available radios on the market and “presented” it to Puyi. He personally tended the garden, demonstrating his utmost loyalty to Puyi. In early 1927, Zhang Biao fell ill with cancer and was bedridden at his residence at No. 8 Hongji Lane, behind Zhang Garden. Puyi personally visited him and arranged for a “royal physician,” a Russian doctor, to treat him, but it was too late. On his deathbed, Puyi bestowed upon him the two characters “Zhong Ke” (Loyal and Dutiful) as a token of “imperial grace.” Zhang Biao passed away on September 13 of the same year. Puyi presented Zhang Biao with a plaque inscribed with “Heart as Firm as Gold and Stone.”

Emperor Xuantong, Aisin-Gioro Puyi (February 7, 1906 – October 17, 1967), courtesy name Yaoshi, pseudonym Haoran, was the last emperor and the final ruler in Chinese history. Puyi was the grandson of Prince Chun Yixuan. He ascended the throne in the 34th year of the Guangxu reign, abdicated after the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution, ending the rule of the Qing Dynasty, and became the “Kangde Emperor” of the puppet state of Manchukuo after the Mukden Incident. After Japan’s defeat, Puyi was repatriated to China, underwent reeducation and reform at the Fushun War Criminals Management Centre, and was granted a special pardon by Mao Zedong in 1959, becoming a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. In 1967, Puyi died of... [More details about Aisin-Gioro Puyi++]

Last Empress, Gobulo Wanrong (November 13, 1906 – June 20, 1946), courtesy name Muhong, pseudonym Zhilian, pen name Rong Yuehua, was of the Daur ethnic group and the empress of the last emperor, Aisin-Gioro Puyi. In 1922, with the insistence of Jin Huangguifei (Duan Kang Huangguifei) and the permission of the Republican government, Wanrong became the nominal empress and later the empress of Manchukuo. According to *The First Half of My Life*, Wanrong became addicted to opium and had an affair with a guard, giving birth to a daughter who died shortly after. Following the child’s death, Wanrong became increasingly frail and passed away in June 1946 in... [More details about Gobulo Wanrong++]

Erdet Wensiu (December 20, 1909 – September 17, 1953), also known as Huixin, Fuyufang, and Daxiu, was of Mongolian ethnicity and formerly a consort of the last emperor, Puyi. In 1924, after Puyi’s family was expelled from the Forbidden City and moved to Tianjin, Puyi sought to restore the Qing monarchy with Japanese support, but Wensiu disagreed with his approach, leading to growing estrangement between them. In August 1931, Wensiu publicly announced her divorce from Puyi in a newspaper—known as the “Knife Consort Revolution”—and the two officially divorced in October. Wensiu’s life afterward was tumultuous and austere, but she refused to submit to the Japanese... [More details about Erdet Wensiu++]

Zhang Biao (1860–1927), courtesy name Huchen, was from Yuci, Shanxi Province. He rose to prominence through Zhang Zhidong and served as commander of the Hubei Banner Army, military governor, and commander of the Eighth Division stationed in Wuchang. He was born on December 28, 1860, in Zuofu Village, Yuci County, Shanxi Province.

Orphaned at a young age, Zhang Biao was raised by his maternal uncle. In his early years, he went to Taiyuan with his uncle to make a living, learning skills such as seal carving and paper mounting. Later, he studied martial arts under Master Liu, who came from Mount Wutai, and earned the title of martial arts scholar. In 1882, Zhang Biao was employed as an attendant by Zhang Zhidong, then governor of Shanxi. Later, Zhang Biao followed Zhang Zhidong to... [More details about Zhang Biao++]