The Former Residence of the Shen Family in Luzhi

The Former Residence of the Shen Family in Luzhi

The Former Residence of the Shen Family in Luzhi is a cultural relic protection unit of Suzhou City.

The Wang Tao Memorial Hall is located at No. 6 Zhongshi Xiatang Street in the ancient town of Luzhi. Originally the old residence of the Shen family, it was established as a memorial hall in 1998 for visitors to learn about Wang Tao. The contemporary renowned painter and calligrapher Qian Juntao inscribed the name of the hall. The memorial hall features one main axis with three courtyards, with main structures including the gate tower, the front hall (Wang Tao's Life and Achievements Exhibition Hall), the Mandarin Duck Hall (Wang Tao’s Former Residence), and Taoyuan Garden. The buildings largely date back to the Qing Dynasty, with renovations made in modern times. Admission is included in the Luzhi Ancient Town combo ticket.

Wang Tao (1828–1897) was a prominent thinker, political commentator, and journalist in modern China. He was born into a scholarly family in Fuli Village, Changzhou County (now Luzhi Town). As a youth, he spent time in Fuli and often visited Baosheng Chan Temple, where he wrote, “It sounds like the roar of thousands of troops and horses, or like leaves falling from thousands of mountains, or springs flowing from myriad valleys.” At the age of 18, Wang Tao traveled to Kunshan, where he passed the imperial examination to become a local scholar (xiucai), and later went to Jinling (Nanjing) for further exams but did not succeed.

In 1848 (the 29th year of the Daoguang reign), Wang Tao was hired by the London Missionary Society’s missionary Walter Henry Medhurst to work at the London Missionary Society Press in Shanghai. During his time there, he participated in retranslating the Bible and published works such as Commercial Intercourse between China and England, Elementary Explanations of Mechanics, Illustrations of Optics, and The Origins of Western Astronomy. Wang Tao worked at the press for 13 years.

In 1862 (the first year of the Tongzhi reign), Wang Tao, under the alias Huang Wan, submitted a letter to the Taiping Rebellion forces offering strategic advice. Unfortunately, the Qing government discovered this and placed a warrant for his arrest. With arrangements made by the British Consulate in Shanghai, Wang Tao fled by boat to Hong Kong, beginning 23 years in exile. While in Hong Kong, he traveled to Europe and founded China’s first Chinese-language commercial daily newspaper, the Universal Circulating Herald, serving as its editor-in-chief. He published over 800 opinion pieces in the newspaper, strongly advocating that China emulate European powers and undertake “reforms.” He once remarked, “I know that within a hundred years, China will fully adopt Western methods and surpass them.”

In 1884 (the 10th year of the Guangxu reign), Wang Tao finally returned to Shanghai, where he settled for the rest of his life. In his later years, he founded the Taoyuan Publishing House and continued to publish political commentaries. He passed away on April 23, 1897 (May 24, 1897 in the Gregorian calendar) at his home, the Chengxi Thatched Cottage, in Shanghai.

Throughout his life, Wang Tao translated and published a large number of Western books, promoting the spread of Western culture and contributing to the introduction of Western learning to China. He founded the Universal Circulating Herald and actively published political commentaries, articles, and reports, becoming a leading figure in journalism and a pioneer of the reform movement in China.

The front hall is three bays wide and eight rafters deep, with a grass-framed roof structure above. In the center stands a bust of Wang Tao, while the screen depicts major events in his life. The walls on both sides and vertical scrolls provide textual introductions to Wang Tao.

The Mandarin Duck Hall was originally the study of the old residence’s owner. It features simple beam frames and windows in the style of the late Qing and early Republican periods, with good ventilation and lighting. It is now arranged as Wang Tao’s former residence, displaying a desk, calligraphy, and paintings. A large plaque in the middle is inscribed with “Henghua Pavilion.”

Taoyuan Garden is situated at the far end of the entire complex. Walking from the Mandarin Duck Hall, you’ll discover a hidden world, like a small universe. The garden includes a small pond with fish and fine stones, lush lotus leaves, artificial hills, flowing water with lofty artistic conception, pavilions, corridors, and terraces that offer a view of the whole area, all adorned with trees and flowers. The combination of motion and stillness, sound and color, creates a serene and elegant atmosphere.

In July 2009, the Shen Family Former Residence (Wang Tao Memorial Hall) was listed as a cultural relic protection unit of Suzhou City.