Former Residence of Fan Zhuzhai

　　The former residence of Fan Zhuzhai is located at No. 76 Chifeng Road, Heping District. It is a distinctive passageway-style building, with the side facing Chifeng Road being a three-story brick-and-wood structure with a gate opening. The middle second floor is relatively low. Upon entering the courtyard, there are brick-and-wood buildings with semi-basements on all three sides, each featuring a wide stone staircase with ten steps in front, which is quite spectacular. The second floor has a dustpan-shaped corridor that connects all three sides, with bottle-pillar style exterior decorations on the outer side of the corridor. The corridor is fitted with glass windows and louvers. In the northeast corner of the yard, there is a round pavilion-style building that blends harmoniously with the overall architecture, adorned with eight graceful Ionic columns. The rooftop platform features a uniquely shaped circular stone pavilion. This building is currently used by the Tianjin Agricultural Materials Company and the Tianjin Agricultural Machinery Company, and is listed as an immovable cultural relic in Tianjin that has not yet been officially designated as a protected cultural heritage site.

　　Fan Zhuzhai (1869~1949)　　Fan Zhuzhai (1869–1949), given name Anrong, was a native of Tianjin with ancestral roots in Fan County, Shandong. At the age of 17, he apprenticed at Shuangfucheng General Goods Store in Tianjin. In 1901, he served as the Shanghai manager for Jingdehe Cotton Yarn Shop. In 1906, he co-founded Ruixingyi Cotton Yarn Shop with Jin Guishan and Pan Yaoting, where he served as manager. In 1913, he jointly established Tongyixing Yarn Shop in Tianjin and became its manager, later transitioning to sole proprietorship. In 1919, Fan Zhuzhai participated in raising funds to establish Beiyang Cotton Mill. Beiyang Cotton Mill was founded by Ji, a commercial capitalist from Tianjin's Dunqinglong firm, in collaboration with seven cotton fabric businesses: Longshun, Longju, Tongyixing, Ruixingyi, Qingfengyi, and Wandecheng. Among them, Tongyixing was operated by Fan Zhuzhai... More+