Former Site of China Travel Service

Former Site of China Travel Service

The Former Site of China Travel Service is a cultural tourism attraction.

Located on the western slope of Xuedou Temple in Ningbo, Zhejiang. This Western-style building has six guest rooms and one dining room, covering an area of 438 square meters. It was originally the Xuedou Mountain Guesthouse of the Shanghai China Travel Service, abbreviated as “China Travel Service.” It was completed and opened in June 1934. In January 1937, the house was requisitioned by the Military Committee and renamed “Guesthouse for Mr. Zhang Xueliang.”

The first place of Zhang Xueliang’s house arrest. On July 13, 1937, Zhang Xueliang was “escorted” to Xikou by Dai Li. On the 24th, he stayed here with his adjutant, nurse, and other attendants, while his wife Yu Fengzhi and secretary Zhao Yidi were permitted to take turns keeping him company. On February 17, Zhang wrote letters to Yang Hucheng and the Northeast Army generals, encouraging them to “fight hard for the country, avenge and reclaim the lost lands of the Northeast, put the nation and its people first, and not worry about Zhang Xueliang personally.” On September 22, the guesthouse caught fire and was burned down. He then moved to Xuedou Temple and left for Huangshan, Anhui on the 24th. During this time, Zhang personally funded 500 British pounds to build a small three-bay whitewashed building in the woods near Xikeng Shuijianyan. He gifted the building to the abbot of Xuedou Temple upon leaving. It collapsed in 1946. A contemporary poem reads: “West of the temple by the stream, where the Young Marshal once stayed in seclusion. Waterfalls hang from the cliffs, birds sing deep in the woods.” In May 1988, the state allocated funds to rebuild the guesthouse, exhibiting photos of Zhang Xueliang’s life and achievements, and opened it as a memorial hall.