Shude Mountain Villa (Former Residence of Tang Shengzhi)

Shude Mountain Villa (Former Residence of Tang Shengzhi)

Shude Mountain Villa (Former Residence of Tang Shengzhi) is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a patriotic education base.

The former residence of Tang Shengzhi is located in Zhaojiajing Village, Luhongshi Town, Dong’an County, Yongzhou City.

Tang Shengzhi (1889–1970), courtesy name Mengxiao, was a native of Dong’an, Hunan. He joined the Tongmenghui in 1911, graduated from the Baoding Military Academy in 1914, and participated in the Xinhai Revolution, the anti-Yuan campaigns, and the Constitutional Protection Movement. He held various military positions including regimental commander, brigade commander, and division commander in the Hunan Army. During the Northern

During Tang Shengzhi’s return to his hometown from 1938 to 1949, Shude Mountain Villa served as a contact point for revolutionary activities. In May 1949, the CCP Hunan Provincial Working Committee sent Liu Shouqi and Zhang Fan from Changsha to Shude Mountain Villa to discuss with Tang Shengzhi the efforts to secure the peaceful liberation of Hunan, conveying a letter from Zhou Li, Secretary of the Provincial Working Committee, to Tang. Soon after, Tang Shengzhi went to Changsha to organize the Hunan People's Self-Salvation Association, then returned to Shude Mountain Villa to command former subordinates in military operations to welcome the peaceful liberation of Hunan, in coordination with the uprising of Cheng Qian and Chen Mingren in Changsha. On August 4, when Cheng Qian and Chen Mingren staged their uprising, Tang Shengzhi led 106 people in responding via telegram from Dong’an. In December, Tang Shengzhi followed the representatives sent by the CCP Hunan Provincial Committee to greet him to Changsha, leaving Shude Mountain Villa.

Shude Mountain Villa was initially built in the 16th year of the Republic of China (1927), covering a total area of approximately 27,000 square meters with a total construction area of about 5,000 square meters. The overall layout is primarily within a rectangular area, facing west with its back to the east, enclosed by surrounding walls. The gatehouse, main building, and VIP building are the three main structures of the villa, standing in a tripod formation. The gatehouse is entirely in traditional Chinese architectural style, but its roof does not overhang, with water draining on all four sides. The owner integrated the layout and design elements of garden architecture into the residence—for example, winding corridors that turn along with the house, creating the serene aesthetic of winding paths in gardens. The front courtyard features lush, shady trees, while the rear garden is filled with blooming flowers and plants, adding to the villa’s elegance and beauty. It breaks away from the traditional layout of local residences and pioneers a unique architectural style in the region. Additionally, an eye-catching feature of the villa is that the three main gates along the central axis form varying angles with the north-south walls.

Tang Shengzhi’s Former Residence (Shude Mountain Villa) was designated as a Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Dong’an County by the Dong’an County People’s Government in 1991, recognized as a Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Hunan Province by the Hunan Provincial People’s Government in January 1996, and listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level by the State Council in May 2006. In August 1995, it was announced as a Yongzhou Patriotic Education Base by the Publicity Department of the Yongzhou Municipal Committee.

Tang Shengzhi

(1890–1970)

Commander-in-Chief of the Fourth Front Army of the National Revolutionary Army, Vice Chairman of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

A native of Dong’an County, Hunan Province, Tang Shengzhi was born on October 30, 1890, into a family of late Qing officials. He graduated at age 18 from the first class of the Hunan Army Primary School and went on to study at the Wuchang Army Middle School. In 1911, he joined the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance and attended the preparatory corps at Baoding Military Academy. He participated in the Xinhai Revolution. He served as a clerk at the Shanghai Provisional Government and as a staff officer at the Yantai Provisional Government. In the autumn of 1912, at Baoding Army… More details about Tang Shengzhi++

Zhaojiajing Village: Zhaojiajing Village… More details about Zhaojiajing Village++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level