Qiushu Lane

　　    Qiushu Lane is a villa built in 1930 by Liu Chenggan, the owner of the Jiaye Hall Library. Throughout his life, Liu Chenggan was indifferent to fame and wealth, never sought official positions, and even in his later years when his family fortune declined, he remained content and carefree. Hence, he referred to himself as the “Hermit of Qiushu.” He stored his books in Shanghai

　　    at a place named “Qiushu Studio,” and his villa in Nanxun was called “Qiushu Lane.”

　　    In 1920, Liu Chenggan built

　　    the Jiaye Hall Library. To meet the management needs of the library, he expanded Qiushu Lane as a residence for him and his family during their stays in Nanxun, as well as an office for managing the library.

　　    Qiushu Lane is a typical example of Sino-Western architectural fusion. The entire structure combines a gatehouse, a corridor, a Western-style gate tower, a rolling shutter door, a courtyard, and an independent hall.

　　    

　　    Qiushu Lane currently hosts a photography exhibition featuring the works of Liu Xucang. Liu Xucang, originally named Liu Chengdong, was a renowned modern Chinese photography artist who once served as the chairman of the Shanghai Photography Association. He was Liu Chenggan’s ninth younger brother, 32 years his junior. One brother, dressed in traditional scholar robes and known for collecting antiques, achieved fame; the other, clad in Western suits, became renowned for his photography. The two brothers each excelled in their fields and were humorously dubbed the “Sino-Western fusion” of the Liu family.

　　    At the end of the corridor in Qiushu Lane lies a garden villa. The garden is adorned with plants, trees, and Taihu rocks, while the main building of the villa is a hall with a Sino-Western architectural style. The second floor contains bedrooms, and opening the south-facing windows allows one to enjoy the scenery within the garden as well as distant views of the Liu family’s Xiaolian Manor and the library. There is also a hidden room on the upper level that is not easily noticed.