Former Residence of the Chiang Family

Former Residence of the Chiang Family

The Former Residence of the Chiang Family is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Former Residence of the Chiang Family is located in Xikou Town, Fenghua City, Zhejiang Province. It is the birthplace of Chiang Kai-shek, a renowned modern Chinese politician, military strategist, and former President of the Republic of China. The site complex includes Fenghao House (the main residence), Yutai Salt Shop (birthplace of Chiang Kai-shek), Xiaoyangfang (residence of Chiang Ching-kuo and his wife after their return from the USSR in 1937), Wenchang Pavilion (where General Zhang Xueliang was once under house arrest), the former site of the China Travel Service, Wuling Middle School (founded by Chiang Kai-shek), the tomb of Chiang’s mother Wang Caiyu, and Miaogaotai (where Chiang stayed during his political retirements), among other structures.

On May 25, 1949, the People's Liberation Army captured Xikou. Prior to that, on May 6, Mao Zedong instructed the 61st Division of the PLA’s 21st Army stationed in Xikou to protect the Chiang family residences. During a certain period, some buildings were damaged by human actions. After that period ended in 1979, upon proposal by [a certain party], the Chinese government allocated funds to restore the Chiang family residences and ancestral tombs. Since the 1990s, Chiang descendants such as Chiang Fang-chih and John Chiang have visited Xikou multiple times to pay respects at the ancestral graves. In November 1996, the Former Residence of the Chiang Family was included in the fourth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Fenghao House covers an area of 4,800 square meters, with a built-up area of 1,850 square meters. The main gate, Sujv (plain living quarters), Baobentang (ancestral hall), and the independent small building are original structures dating back to the Qing Dynasty, while the rest were expanded by the Chiang family in 1929. Originally, there were six inherited rooms in Fenghao House. In 1928, Chiang Kai-shek expanded the residence, relocating 25 neighboring households, developing it into its current scale of 4,800 square meters with a built-up area of 1,850 square meters. During the expansion, one neighbor, Zhou Shunfang, requested nearby resettlement. Though he later yielded one room to the Chiangs, he did not move out.

Yutai Salt Shop is the birthplace of Chiang Kai-shek, located at the entrance of Zhangqiang Lane on Middle Street in Xikou. Chiang’s grandfather, Siqian, and father, Zhaocong, once ran a business here dealing in grain, salt, liquor, and sundries. According to the Chiang family genealogy, Chiang Kai-shek was born on the second floor of this house on September 15 of the 13th year of the Guangxu reign (1887) during the Qing Dynasty. Chiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek’s elder brother) also lived here with his children after stepping down from his post as supervisor of the Ningbo Customs. Around 1919, the shop temporarily closed when Chiang Jieshi left to seek opportunities elsewhere. It was destroyed by fire again in 1921. In 1948, Chiang Kai-shek funded its reconstruction. It was taken over by the government in May 1949. In 1984, the State Council allocated funds for renovation, and it was opened to the public.

Xiaoyangfang was built in 1930 as a villa for Chiang Ching-kuo. It is situated at the eastern foot of Tandun Mountain in Xikou, originally named “Han Zhai” and also known as “Shanxi Cottage.” It is a two-story building with courtyards both in the front and back. The front faces the Shanchi River, while the back leans against Wushan Mountain. With a flat roof, it has passageways connecting to the Leting Pavilion and Wenchang Pavilion. The name “Xiaoyangfang” (literally “small Western-style house”) comes from the fact that the construction materials used—lime and cement—were then referred to as “foreign ash.” The house was originally built for Australian advisor Dorn.

Wenchang Pavilion is located at the high southern end of Wushan Mountain, also known as “Kui Pavilion.” Originally built in the ninth year of the Yongzheng reign during the Qing Dynasty, it was reconstructed in 1924 when Chiang Kai-shek returned from Guangdong for ancestral worship and noticed its tilted beams and pillars. He asked his elder brother Chiang Jieshi to organize laborers for the rebuild. By the following year, a two-story structure with a built-up area of 500 square meters was completed. On the completion day, Chiang Kai-shek named it “Leting” (Joy Pavilion) and wrote “Record of Leting” to describe its beauty. However, locals still refer to it as Wenchang Pavilion. After renovation, it became Chiang Kai-shek’s private villa and library. After the 1927 marriage between Chiang and Soong Mei-ling, the couple often stayed here. On December 12, 1939, six Japanese bombers attacked Xikou and razed Wenchang Pavilion to the ground. It remained in ruins until Chiang left the mainland. In 1987, the government funded its reconstruction to the original design.

Wuling Middle School was originally founded and named “Wuling School” by Mr. Chiang Kai-shek in 1927. The school had a comprehensive structure, offering education from kindergarten to high school graduation, including general education, vocational agriculture, as well as facilities like forest farms, agricultural fields, and factories. It was dubbed the “Little Whampoa Military Academy.” Starting in 1932, Chiang Kai-shek personally served as the school principal, with a school affairs head managing daily operations. Later, a board of directors was formed, consisting of 12 members including Soong Mei-ling, Chiang Ching-kuo, Chiang Wei-kuo, Chen Bulei, Chen Lifu, and Chen Guofu, with Soong as chairwoman. In January 1948, its regular high school department was officially named “Wuling Middle School.”

The Tomb Path of Chiang’s Mother is located in Yulin’ao on Bailan Mountain, about 1 kilometer west of Xikou Town. First built in 1923, the entrance features three gates: the central gate is 3.7 meters wide, and the left and right side gates are each 2.1 meters wide. The path is 668 meters long with a fine gravel surface, ascending along the slope. Along the way are structures such as the “Dismount Pavilion,” the “Tomb Cottage,” and the “Octagonal Pavilion.” The tomb itself faces north and is covered with yellow earth. The cottage above the tomb is inscribed with “Ci’an” (Compassionate Hut). The central hall displays a portrait of Chiang’s mother, Wang Caiyu, and houses four stone tablets. The central tablet bears Sun Yat-sen’s handwritten “Eulogy for Madame Chiang,” with an inscription on the reverse side detailing her life. The side walls feature Chiang Kai-shek’s “Elegy for Mother” and a “Letter of Condolence to Generalissimo Chiang” from the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang.

The former site of the China Travel Service is where General Zhang Xueliang was once under house arrest inside the China Travel Service building on Snow Buddha Mountain.

Miaogaotai is located about 500 meters from the scenic Thousand-Zhang Cliff of Snow Buddha Mountain. A peak rises abruptly, towering above the surrounding ranges, known as “Miaogaotai,” also called “Miaogaofeng” or “Heavenly Pillar Peak.” According to the sixth volume of the 1948 revised “Wuling Chiang Family Genealogy,” when Chiang Kai-shek was eight years old, “he first went up to Snow Buddha Mountain and loved the view from Miaogaofeng,” and “in the 16th year of the Republic [1927], President Chiang built a villa here,” inscribing the plaque himself with the words “Miaogaotai.” The villa is built in traditional Chinese style, featuring a three-bay, two-story central section with a front courtyard. Flanking the entrance are single-story rooms, above which is a balcony connected by a cement corridor. At the back are three single-story rooms enclosed by a wall to form a unified complex.

Address: No. 26, Wuling West Road, Xikou Town, Fenghua District, Ningbo City

Type: Celebrity Former Residence

Recommended Visiting Time: About 0.5 day

Phone: 0574-88855555

Opening Hours:

Summer: 7:45–17:30; Winter: 7:45–17:00

Chiang Kai-shek (October 31, 1887 – April 5, 1975), whose given name was Zhongzheng and courtesy name Jieshi. His childhood name was Ruiyuan, his genealogy name ZhouTai, and his school name Zhiqing. Of ancestral home in Yixing, Jiangsu, he was born in Fenghua, Zhejiang. He was a renowned modern Chinese political figure and military leader, having served as President of Whampoa Military Academy, Commander-in-Chief of the National Revolutionary Army, Chairman of the National Government, President of the Executive Yuan, Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs Commission of the National Government, Generalissimo of the Republic of China, Leader of the Kuomintang, Commander of the Three People’s Principles Youth League, Supreme Commander of the China Theater of the Allied Forces in World War II, and President of the Republic of China, among other positions.

Chiang Zhong...  More details about Chiang Kai-shek ++

Xikou Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Fenghua City. Established as Xikou Township in 1950, upgraded to town status in 1956, changed to a commune in 1958, re-established as a town in 1980, and incorporated three nearby townships—Jifengshan, Dongcun, and Dong’ao—in 1992. Located 13 kilometers northwest of the city government, it covers an area of 134 square kilometers with a population of 43,000. The Jiangba Highway runs through it. The town administers Xikouyi Village, Xikouer Village, Xikousan Village, Lichun Village, Waicun Village, Renshan Ting, Yuxi Village, Shangbai Village, Wulin Village, Hushan Village, Shadi Village, Shanshan Village, Xinjian Village, Dong’ao Village, Wanggaotai Village, Chenjia Village, Shuimentou Village, Zhizhao Village, Xizhao Village, Sanshiliuwang Village, Zhongfeng Village, Lantian Village, Dongjiang Village, ...  More details about Xikou Town ++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units