Former Residence of Zhang Ruiting

　　The residence of Zhang Ruiting is situated at No. 9 Huayuan Road, Heping District, on the right bank of the Haihe River. Constructed in 1922, it is a Nordic-style building with a mixed structure, featuring partial three floors and a basement, covering a land area of 2,322 square meters and a building area of 2,324 square meters. The front part of the residence consists of the main building and the front yard, while the rear section along Yingkou Road includes a row of single-story buildings and a backyard, totaling 47 rooms including both buildings and single-story structures. The building has exterior corridors on three sides. The entrance is via high steps leading up to a large terrace, with doors on either side opening into a semi-circular floral hall. Inside the hall are four octahedral columns with eight-lobed leaf capitals, and a fountain is set between the columns as an accent. The interior decoration is exquisite: the floral hall has a black-and-white marble floor, and the glass windows are inlaid with stained glass forming scenic pictures. The central part of the roof is designed in a mansard style reminiscent of the Mansard roof. The parapet features bottle-shaped open balustrades. On either side of the hall are a salon, dining room, and reception room; the second floor also has a central hall surrounded by bedrooms and bathrooms, while the third floor includes bedrooms and a large terrace. The courtyard contains rockeries and flower stands, making it a high-end garden residence. It currently houses the Tianjin Federation of Industry and Commerce.

　　

　　Zhang Ruiting (1878~1944)　　At the age of 15, he worked as an apprentice for a boat owner in Xiaozhan, often transporting military supplies to the training camp of Yuan Shikai’s army in Xiaozhan. He later contracted to supply military uniforms and gear for the troops, such as outfitting the entire Northeast Army, which helped him build his fortune. He then established the Hengyuan Canvas Mill, producing and supplying canvas fabric himself, and later merged by agreement with Zhili Cotton Mill to form Hengyuan Textile Co., Ltd. (Hengyuan Cotton Mill). In 1930, Zhang also took over Beiyang Cotton Mill, becoming a renowned industrial and commercial figure of the time. Zhang Ruiting was passionate about education. He donated 100,000 yuan to the Nankai School's education fund, and when Nankai built new school facilities, they named the auditorium “Ruiting Auditorium” in his honor. Zhang fell ill in 1944 and...... Details+