Former Residence of Zhou Mingtai

　　The former residence of Zhou Mingtai is situated at No. 273 Hebei Road, Heping District. Constructed in 1933, it was designed by engineer Shen Liyuan of the Huaxin Engineering Firm based on Zhou Mingtai’s own intentions. The structure is a brick-concrete building, featuring a front porch with three arched arcades on the ground floor, a two-story balcony supported by double columns spanning three bays, and a third floor that recedes inward, topped with a square pavilion. The doors and windows are all made of Philippine hardwood, with window sills crafted from white marble, and the steel-framed windows are inlaid with hollow glass, making them exquisitely refined. Entering through the first-floor corridor leads into the bright main living room, which has an arched ceiling decoration, fluted pilasters on both sides, and wave-like vortex motifs, giving off a strong sense of rhythm, simplicity, and dignity with a style reminiscent of ancient Greek sculpture. It is a British-style veranda residential courtyard house. This residence is currently used by the Tianjin Public Security Bureau and is listed as a cultural relic protection unit of Tianjin.

　　Zhou Mingtai (1896~1994)　　Zhou Mingtai (1896–1994), courtesy name Zhifu, also known as the Master of Jili Residence, was a native of Zhidexian (now Dongzhi) in Anhui Province. He was the direct grandson of Zhou Fu (eldest son of Zhou Xuexi). In his childhood, he studied in a private school and was proficient in German and English. In the seventh year of the Republic of China (1918), he served as a secretary in the Beiyang Government. In the eleventh year of the Republic of China (1922), he was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce as an advisor, and in the thirteenth year (1924), he became an advisor in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, among other positions. Later, he engaged in industry. He held various roles including director of Qingdao Huaxin Textile Mill, executive director and chairman of Tianjin Yuan’an Trust (Bank), chairman of Qingdao Huaxin Textile Mill, chairman of Shanghai Xinhé Textile Mill, and executive director of Shanghai Maohua Commercial Bank, among others, for many years. Details+