Former Residence of Xu Shidong (Yanyulou)

Former Residence of Xu Shidong (Yanyulou)

The Former Residence of Xu Shidong (Yanyulou) is a cultural heritage site protected by Ningbo Municipality.

The former residence of Xu Shidong is located at the entrance of Guijing Lane on the west bank of Moon Lake in Ningbo. The ancient house faces east and has five bays with two wings, spanning two floors, with the books stored upstairs. He lived on Yanyuzhou in Moon Lake. His private collection was said to contain 60,000 volumes. Not only did he gather works by famous scholars, but he also paid attention to collecting local literature, and set up the following rules: “Do not roll the pages, do not fold the corners, do not spit on or tear the pages, do not insert other papers between the pages, do not use it as a pillow, do not decorate it in flashy styles, do not scribble on it carelessly, do not show it to vulgar people, and do not lend it to others for long periods.”

Xu Shidong (1814–1873), styled Dingyu and Tongsu, also known as Liuchuan, was a native of Yin County (now Yinzhou District, Ningbo). He was a renowned scholar, local historian, and bibliophile of eastern Zhejiang during the Qing Dynasty. He had a deep love for reading and collecting books, amassing over 10,000 volumes. On Yanyuzhou in Moon Lake, he built "Yanyulou," which served as his study, writing, and book collection space. It is said that he “was naturally intelligent and devoted himself to scholarship.” Yanyulou was where he studied from childhood. About a hundred years before him, Xie Shan, also known as Quan Zuwang and later revered as a great master of wisdom, who was called the “Encyclopedia of Ten Thousand Treasures,” was born deep in this osmanthus-scented street lane — a figure Xu Shidong greatly admired.

Initially named Lianhu Book Tower, Yanyulou was so proclaimed by Xu Shidong in his own notes: “I have loved collecting books since I was over ten years old.” At a very young age, he showed great talent for composing poetry and couplets. As a teenager, he authored “Lianhu Book Tower Poetic Lyrics,” a two-volume work. “Leaning on the railing and looking into the distance, the lake’s surface is as blue as vast glass, reflecting delicately all around. All the scenic spots praised in local records — Flower Isle, Willow Cove, and Emerald Islet — compete in charm before one’s eyes.” His study faced Moon Lake, where the waves were clear and flowers bloomed profusely. It was not only a spiritual paradise for literati and refined scholars but also a place where officials went fishing and enjoyed dreamlike garden strolls.

To make better use of his collection, the following year he moved his operations to a new residence outside the west gate, the Shuibei Pavilion, and borrowed over a thousand volumes from the Baoging Tower of Lu Zhi in the city and the Badaqianlou Collection of Ding Bing in Hangzhou. Following the model of biographies in the National History Office, he indicated the sources of information to be included in the local records, arranging them into written form. Five years later, when he was seriously ill and nearing death, he entrusted the affairs of the records office to Dong Pei with great seriousness, without mentioning any personal matters. In 1874, the records were completed and published in the third year of the Guangxu reign as the Guangxu Edition of the Yinxian County Annals. Xu was also known for his public spirit and sense of justice. He established charitable estates, promoted education, and funded the repair of the Dongjin pontoon bridge and the construction of the Sanqiao Xi Gate dam. The Shuibei Pavilion was located in Huachi Lane and is now a key cultural heritage site protected by Haishu District.

Xu Shidong (1814–1873), a famous bibliophile of the Qing Dynasty. Styled Dingyu, also styled Tongsu, and known as Liuchuan, scholars referred to him as “Mr. Liuchuan.” Because he was the thirteenth child in his family, he was also called Xu Shisan, and went by the names Danchan and Danzhai, with the alias Xihu Waishi. He was a native of Yinxian County. In 1846, during the Qing Daoguang reign, he passed the imperial examination at the county level and attempted the metropolitan examination twice without success, after which he no longer pursued it, eventually receiving an appointment as a Hanlin compiler for contributing to military provisions. Diligent in his studies and well-read, he focused his Confucian studies on pre-Qin theories, using classical learning to interpret the classics. His writings were primarily in ancient poetry and prose. He extensively collected literature and published the “Four Ming Song-Yuan Six Records,” considered a fine edition. In the seventh year of the Tongzhi reign (1868), he began working on the Yinxian Annals… More details about Xu Shidong++

Yuelake Subdistrict: Established in 1992, Yuelake Subdistrict in Haishu District is located in downtown Ningbo. It stretches from Jiefang Road in the east to Changchun Road in the west, neighbors the five-star Nanyuan Hotel to the south, and borders Zhongshan Road to the north. It was formed from the merger of three former subdistricts: Xianxue, Huxi, and Cangqiao. The area covers 2.07 square kilometers, with 16,492 resident households and a population of 41,775, organized into seven community committees. The region boasts a long history and rich cultural heritage, including the “Nanyue Book City” — the world’s oldest private library, Tianyi Pavilion, and the historic Buddhist sacred site — the Lay Buddhist Forest. This… More details about Yuelake Subdistrict++