Guilu (Former Residence of Zhang Fakui)

Guilu (Former Residence of Zhang Fakui)

Guilu (Former Residence of Zhang Fakui) is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

Guilu refers to the former residence of Zhang Fakui (including Guilu, Zhuxi Bridge, and Xianghua Spring), located in Zhangwu Natural Village, Zhangwo Village Committee, Fadu Village, Aizi Town, Shixing County, Shaoguan City. The old residence faces southeast from the northwest and was built in the 26th year of the Republic of China (1937). It is 19.437 meters wide, 19.66 meters deep, and has two floors standing 9.276 meters tall. The lintel is inscribed with “Guilu” and the structure is made of brick, tile, and wood. It consists of a hall, living quarters, kitchen, dining room, garden, and more, combining both Chinese and Western styles with distinctive features.

Guilu was the home of Zhang Fakui, where he lived for 15 years. Zhang Fakui’s ancestors were farmers. His father’s name was Ju Zhi, styled Zhuxi, and he served as a minor official in the county government. At the age of 8, Zhang Fakui attended private school and studied at the county high school in the 33rd year of the Guangxu reign. In the summer of the 3rd year of the Xuantong reign (1911 AD), while swimming with a classmate named Li Jun, Li accidentally drowned. Fearful of being implicated, Zhang Fakui fled to Guangzhou, where he first worked as an apprentice in a dyeing and weaving shop before enlisting in the military. In the 1st year of the Republic of China (1912), he was admitted to the Guangdong Army Elementary School and joined the Tongmenghui (Chinese Revolutionary Alliance). Intelligent and studious, he ranked among the top in the following year out of 3,000 students with his essay “On Wu Qi Leading Troops and Sharing Weal and Woe with Soldiers,” which earned him promotion to the Wuchang Third Army Middle School. He later joined the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance. In 1916, Zhang Fakui graduated from the Wuchang Second Army Officer Preparatory School and returned to the Guangdong Army, rising from platoon leader step by step to brigade commander. In the winter of 1925, he was appointed commander of the 12th Division of the National Revolutionary Army’s 4th Army. The following year, he participated in the Northern Expedition, distinguishing himself in battles such as the capture of Tingsi Bridge and Wuchang City. For his meritorious service, he was promoted to commander of the 4th Army, which was hailed as the “Iron Army.” After achieving fame and success, he returned to his hometown several times. His engineering troops constructed Guilu in his native village. These engineers used high-quality cement and bricks to meticulously build this small building, ensuring extremely high quality that has remained solid through over 70 years of weathering. Zhuxi Bridge was built in 1937 along with Guilu, also by Zhang Fakui’s engineering troops. Behind Zhuxi Bridge lies a hot spring that flows continuously year-round, a favorite bathing spot for locals. However, the original spring site was covered only by a simple straw shed, which was very unsafe and inconvenient for villagers. To address this, Zhang Fakui funded the construction of a reinforced concrete hot spring bathhouse called “Xianghua Spring.”

Guilu is considered an important modern historical site and representative architecture. On October 20, 2012, it was designated as part of the seventh batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units (No. 95) by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province.

Fadu Village: Fadu Village…… Detailed information about Fadu Village ++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units