Former Residence and Memorial Museum of Zhan Tianyou in Guangzhou

Former Residence and Memorial Museum of Zhan Tianyou in Guangzhou

The Former Residence and Memorial Museum of Zhan Tianyou in Guangzhou is a cultural tourism attraction and a patriotic education base.

The former residence and memorial museum of Zhan Tianyou are located at No. 42, Yacai Lane, Shierpu West Street, Enning Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou. With its rustic blue bricks, wooden door latch, and Manchu-style windows, it is an authentic Xiguan-style house. Next to the memorial is an elementary school named after Zhan Tianyou, and a small green garden connects the residence with the school. Within the garden, there are miniature replicas of the "人" (character-shaped) railway and the Badaling section of the Great Wall, commemorating the great achievement of the “Father of China’s Railways”—the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway.

The former residence of Zhan Tianyou is designed in the style of a typical residential house from the late Qing and early Republican period. Since his family was of modest means when he was born, the restoration emphasizes the simplicity and solemnity of an ordinary Xiguan household. Interestingly, the interior arrangement is based on an old glass negative that had been sealed away in the residence for over a century. It features period furniture such as an eight-immortal table, stools, and a lounge chair, with a screen separating the living area from the bedroom. On one wall hangs a couplet that reads, “Fragrant and graceful as if befriended by immortals; Proud and unyielding, a rare spirit in this world.” These were words from Zhan Tianyou’s close friend and also a reflection of his life.

The Zhan Tianyou Residence Memorial Museum houses a large collection of relics, including steel rails from the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, copper bells used on the railway, sample boxes for steel material orders, drawing instruments, calligraphy models, inkstones, and reproductions of personal documents such as Zhan Tianyou’s self-written resume and a letter dictated by Yuan Shikai to Zhan Tianyou regarding the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway. Among them, the markings “I.P.K.R.1905” on the steel rail are still clearly visible. “I” stands for imperial or official; “P” refers to Beijing; “K” is the abbreviation for Kalgan (a historical transliteration from Mongolian, now referring to the Zhangjiakou area); and “R” stands for railway. These were collected along the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway line by Zhan Tongji, Zhan Tianyou’s grandson and the first director of the Ministry of Railways’ Zhan Tianyou Memorial Museum, who brought them back to his grandfather’s hometown from thousands of miles away.

The album “The Construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway” contains 183 images, rich in content. Most depict scenes of the railway’s construction, work sites, tracks, scenic spots along the line, and celebrations marking the completion of major railway stations. The album also showcases six or seven types of freight cars, including boxcars, horse cars, pig cars, flatcars, ballast cars, and coal cars, indicating that train technology was already quite advanced a hundred years ago. The exhibition is divided into three sections: Zhan Tianyou’s life in Guangzhou and his studies abroad; his career upon returning to China, reflecting how he both introduced and utilized foreign advanced technologies and equipment while fiercely protecting China's sovereignty in railway development; and his patriotism and dedication. A bronze statue of Zhan Tianyou will also be erected in the small garden next to the residence memorial museum.

Address: No. 42, Yacai Lane, Shierpu West Street, Enning Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou

Type: Celebrity Residence Memorial Museum

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

Phone: 020-81377281

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00–17:30; Closed on Mondays

Ticket Information: Free admission

Zhan Tianyou (1861–1919), courtesy name Juan Cheng, was a native of Nanhai County, Guangdong Province. He was a great patriotic engineering expert. On July 8, 1872, at the age of 12, Zhan Tianyou became one of the first group of government-sponsored Chinese 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 transferred to the Whampoa Naval School as an instructor. He subsequently oversaw the construction of several railways, including the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway. He passed away from overwork on April 24, 1919, at 3:30 p.m. in Hankou, at the age of 58... More details about Zhan Tianyou ++