Former Residence of Zhan Tianyou in Wuhan

Former Residence of Zhan Tianyou in Wuhan

The Former Residence of Zhan Tianyou in Wuhan is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

1912. Located at No. 51 Dongting Street, Jiang’an District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province. It covers an area of approximately 300 square meters. This was the residence of Zhan Tianyou during his tenure as the Acting Director-General and Chief Engineer of the Canton–Hankow–Chengdu Railway.

Zhan Tianyou (1861–1919), from Wuyuan, Anhui (now part of Jiangxi), was a renowned Chinese railway engineering expert who oversaw the construction of China’s first self-built railway: the Beijing–Zhangjiakou Railway. From 1912 to 1919, Zhan Tianyou and his family lived here. The former residence faces east and has a square floor plan. It is a two-story Western-style brick-and-wood building with a red-tiled, four-sloped roof. The east, south, and west sides are surrounded by corridors. The east façade features an arcade with arched columns, while the south and west façades have covered walkways. The main entrance is a stone staircase with a spread-wing design, and both the door and corridor are centrally located, creating an interior corridor layout. On both sides of the upper and lower corridors are three rooms of varying sizes, all equipped with fireplaces. The structure includes dormer windows and decorative details on keystone and eaves. After Zhan Tianyou’s passing, his family sold the property. After 1949, it was used as office space for the Hubei Nonferrous Metals & Minerals Import & Export Corporation, later converted into staff dormitories. In 1991, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the Wuhan Municipal People’s Government funded the repurchase of the property. In 1992, the Wuhan Cultural Relics Management Office carried out comprehensive renovations. On April 26, 1993, the Zhan Tianyou Former Residence Exhibition Hall officially opened to the public.

In 2001, it was designated as part of the fifth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

Zhan Tianyou (1861–1919), courtesy name Juan Cheng, was from Nanhai County, Guangdong. He was a great patriotic engineering expert. On July 8, 1872, at just 12 years old, Zhan Tianyou became one of the first group of Chinese government-sponsored students to study in the United States. In 1881, he graduated with honors from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree. After returning to China, he participated in the Battle of Mawei. Later, he was assigned to teach at the Whampoa Naval School. He went on to oversee the construction of multiple railways, including the Beijing–Zhangjiakou Railway. He passed away from overwork at 3:30 PM on April 24, 1919, in Hankou, at the age of 5... More details about Zhan Tianyou ++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units