Former Residence of Wang Zhennan

Former Residence of Wang Zhennan

Wang Zhennan was a cousin of Wang Caiyu, Chiang Kai-shek’s mother. Also known as Gecun Village, the residence is nestled amidst lush greenery and fragrant flowers, and was built in 1936. With its high gray-brick walls, dark tiled roofs, and mountainous backdrop, it is a classic fusion of Chinese and Western architectural cultures. The interior is constructed from high-quality wood, with meticulously carved details and lifelike painted figures. The carvings tell continuous stories rich in meaning, blending traditional Chinese culture with exquisite architecture.

The residence follows the contours of the mountain. Ascending the steps toward the grand, memorial-archway-style gate, one can’t help but recall Li Yu’s words in “Xian Qing Ou Ji”: “There is no path more convenient than a direct one, yet none more delightful than a winding one.” Passing through the main gate and then a moon gate, you reach the front entrance, where the doorframe bears the bold and vigorous inscription “居仁由义” (“Abide in Benevolence, Follow Righteousness”), handwritten by the owner. The entire residence is a two-story U-shaped courtyard building. The wing rooms are connected to the main hall by corridors, featuring double-eaved roofs with coffered ceilings and dragonbone-patterned decorations, all exuding remarkable grandeur. The exterior gables break away from conventional horsehead or hip-and-gable designs, incorporating elements of European architectural style. The internal wooden structure, preserved flawlessly since its construction in 1936, is particularly notable for its fine carvings on pillars, beams, bracket arms, and spandrels — all intricately detailed and vivid, with smooth, elegant patterns.

This house looks its best on rainy days: viewed from afar outside the village, it stands proudly alone; looking out the windows inside, you’re greeted with a scroll-like ink painting — a gentle breeze, light rain, a flowing stream, bamboo groves, and misty mountains. “There is no better way to frame a view than with a window,” and the ingenuity of siting, building, and window placement is fully embodied here.

The Former Residence of Wang Zhennan is a modernized adaptive structure with distinctive features of the Republican era, and is among the best-preserved in our city in terms of both exterior and interior. As a frequent lodging spot for Chiang Kai-shek when he visited his maternal grandmother’s home, it stands as another rare historical and cultural landmark of Fenghua.

Address: Gecun Village, Xikou Town, Fenghua City, Ningbo

Type: Former Celebrity Residence

Recommended Visiting Time: About 1 hour

Ticket Information:

No ticket required.

Wang Zhennan was born on the eleventh day of the seventh month in the year of Renchen, the 18th year of the Guangxu reign (September 15, 1892). He was the youngest of six brothers in his family, with the clan name Lianghan and courtesy name Zipi. A native of Fenghua, Zhejiang, he was Chiang Kai-shek’s cousin.

He graduated from the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Legislation and Politics. In 1924, he went to Guangzhou, serving as a judge in the Military Law Department of the Political Department at the Whampoa Military Academy, a military judge in the Political Department of the First National Revolutionary Army, a colonel-level military judge at the Guangzhou Garrison Command, a brigadier general-level military judge in the Military Law Department of the National Revolutionary Army General Headquarters, and a brigadier general-level military judge in the General Headquarters of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. In January 1930, he was appointed to the Army Division of the Ministry of Military Affairs… More details about Wang Zhennan++