Zhang Family Former Residence

　　The Zhang Family Former Residence is situated on Nanxi Street in Nanxun Town, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province. Constructed between the 25th and 32nd years of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1899–1906), it served as the private residence of Zhang Shiming, the cousin of statesman Zhang Jingjiang. The entire architectural complex covers an area of 5,135 square meters, with a built-up area of 6,137 square meters, and includes up to 244 rooms of various architectural styles. The residence faces east and is divided into southern, northern, and central sections. The front several courtyards feature late Qing–style traditional Chinese architecture, while the rear sections in the southern and central areas showcase Western European Baroque-style buildings. The residence encompasses a full range of architectural styles, with extremely rich brick, wood, and stone carvings. The interior Chinese-style structures extensively incorporate Western materials and craftsmanship. It also houses a large number of calligraphic works by master artists—extremely rare among residences in the Jiangnan region.

　　

　　Zhang Junheng (1871~1927)　　Zhang Junheng (1871–1927), named Junheng, courtesy name Shiming, also known as the Master of Shiyuan Garden, was a native of Nanxun, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province. He passed the imperial examination as a Juren in the 20th year of the Guangxu reign (1894) and had a deep passion for collecting ancient books, stone inscriptions, steles, and unusual rocks. He was one of the four great book collectors in Nanxun during the late Qing and early Republican periods.  Zhang Shiming was the eldest grandson of Zhang Songxian, one of Nanxun’s “Four Magnates” (the wealthiest families), and the cousin of Kuomintang elder statesman Zhang Jingjiang. He lived in the ancestral Zunde Hall on East Main Street, inheriting family businesses that included silk production, the salt trade, as well as the Shanghai Shendai Bank, Southeast Trust Company, and some real estate properties. However, he did not manage them directly himself but was instead passionate about collecting calligraphy, paintings, stone inscriptions, steles... More+