Tianjin Tang Yulin’s Former Residence

Tianjin Tang Yulin’s Former Residence

Tang Yulin’s Former Residence is located at No. 38 Minzhu Road, Hebei District. This is a grand and luxuriously decorated Italian-style building, originally constructed in 1922 by Wu Yulin, Minister of Communications of the Beiyang Government, and sold to Tang Yulin in 1930. This mansion features a majestic exterior as a three-story brick-concrete structure with a basement. Its overall design emphasizes the features and style of the Italian Renaissance, with both inner and outer walls showcasing Baroque decorative elements, embodying the typical architectural characteristics of Western Europe. The residence consists of 55 rooms in the main building and 7 rooms in the auxiliary structures, occupying a land area of 4,323.61 square meters and a construction area of 3,341.69 square meters. The main structure on the right is a three-story building with a basement. The front façade of the ground floor is made of deep, wide-jointed granite-like blocks. A large terrace in front of the house is equipped with a driveway for vehicles. The entrance gate is a round arch, with rectangular windows on either side topped by round ones. The front entrance is accessed via high steps leading into the foyer, which is enclosed by open corridors on three sides. Behind the foyer lies the central hall, with two large living rooms on the east and west sides, divided by four Ionic columns. To the north of the central hall are a reception room, along with a conference room, study, office, bedrooms, and bathrooms. On the second floor, the central front façade features a triple arcade supported by composite columns, with a balcony adorned with bottle-shaped balustrades at the front. The sides of the arcade are supported by square pilasters, with rectangular windows set between them. The cornice is decorated with Rococo motifs at the center, while the pilasters feature carvings of double bull-legs. The upper section of the cornice is accented with square bottle-shaped balusters. The interior of the second floor also centers around a hall, with adjacent spaces including meeting rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms, all surrounded by open corridors. The third floor contains two large central rooms, featuring finely decorated columns and encircled by a spacious terrace. The semi-basement houses the kitchen, storage rooms, and servants' quarters. On both sides of the main building are single-story dance halls topped with stained-glass domes. Each is preceded by a large terrace, with an entrance hall and guest room on either side.

Tang Yulin’s Former Residence is now used by the Tianjin Administration for Industry and Commerce.

Tang Yulin (1871–1937), courtesy name Gechen and nicknamed “Tang the Tiger,” had a deep fascination with tigers. In his luxurious reception hall hung a large painting titled “Fierce Tiger Descending the Mountain,” and he often sat on a sofa covered with tiger skin. Originally from Yexian County, Shandong Province, he was born in Fuxin, Liaoning, and came from a background in the outlawed Green Forest (militia) forces. In 1902, he was incorporated into the Qing army as a sentry officer and assistant supervisor of the Front Route Patrol Battalion in Fengtian. In 1912, he was appointed commander of the 27th Cavalry Regiment of the 27th Division, and was promoted to brigade commander of the 52nd Brigade the following year. In 1917, he went to Beijing to participate in Zhang Xun’s restoration movement, but fled back to Fuxin and went into hiding after its failure. In 1919, he returned to Fengtian...   More details about Tang Yulin ++