Former Site of Zhejiang Library

Former Site of Zhejiang Library

The Former Site of Zhejiang Library is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Former Site of Zhejiang Library (including the Gushan Branch and the Daxue Road Branch)

Era: Modern

The Former Site of Zhejiang Library is located at No. 28 Gushan Road, Xihu District, and No. 102 Daxue Road, Shangcheng District. It consists of the Gushan Branch and the Daxue Road Branch. The Gushan Branch was formerly the Zhejiang Library Repository. It was first built in the 26th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1900) in November, expanded and rebuilt into the Zhejiang Library Repository in 1903, and further expanded into the Zhejiang Library in 1909. The Daxue Road Branch was reconstructed in 1928 as a typical European-style building.

Zhejiang Library was founded in 1900, with its predecessor being the Hangzhou Library Repository.

In the 29th year of the Guangxu reign (1903), Zhang Hengjia, the imperial education commissioner of Zhejiang, acting on the suggestion of local gentry such as Shao Zhang and Hu Zaoqing, constructed a building on Dafangbo Lane near Fengle Bridge. Books from the Dongcheng Lecture Hall were moved there, and additional books and instruments were purchased to enrich the collection. It was named the Zhejiang Library Repository. This was one of the earliest provincial public libraries established in China.

In the first year of the Xuantong reign (1909), it was renamed Zhejiang Library. The Daxue Road Branch was completed in 1931. On November 18, 2000, the new building of Zhejiang Library was officially opened.

Source: Zhejiang Cultural Relics Network

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units