Former Residence of Li Mianzhi

　　The former residence of Li Mianzhi is located at No. 94 Munan Road, Heping District. Built in 1937, it consists of four European-style classical garden villas designed and supervised by Austrian architect Geyling, whom Li Mianzhi hired. After completion, the four villas were lived in by the siblings Li Mianzhi, Li Yunzhi, Li Jinzhi, and Li Shen zhi. Each villa has one underground floor and three above-ground floors, with a construction area of approximately 1,000 square meters and a courtyard area of 1,000 square meters.

　　In May 1994, Li Shen zhi, then honorary chairman of the Heping District CPPCC, donated one of the villas he owned free of charge to the Heping District CPPCC. The building has a granite base, pebble-rendered walls, a steeply pitched pointed roof, and a rooftop terrace. Inside, the wainscoting and flooring are all made from premium hardwood, and the living room is hexagonal, featuring an exquisitely crafted fireplace. It is a German-style courtyard villa. This building is currently used as the "Guest House" restaurant and is listed as an immovable cultural relic in Tianjin that has not yet been announced as a protected cultural heritage site.

　　

　　Li Mianzhi (1898~1976)　　Li Mianzhi (1898–1976), courtesy name Bao Shi, was a native of Tianjin. A patriotic businessman, he held key positions in enterprises such as Huaxin Textile Mill and Zhongtian Electric Machinery Factory. In the early 20th century, Li Mianzhi’s father, Li Ximing, who was a brother to his siblings, was already a well-known and wealthy industrialist in North China. Aside from co-founding Qixin Cement Company with Zhou Xuexi, the former Minister of Finance of the Beiyang Government, and serving as its general manager, Li Ximing also invested heavily in companies such as Kailuan Mining Bureau, Tangshan Huaxin Spinning Mill, and Qinhuangdao Yaohua Glass Company. His philosophy of “saving the nation through industry” had a profound influence on Li Mianzhi and Li Shen zhi. In 1923, Li Mianzhi went to study at the YM Machinery Factory in Germany... Details+