Haining, Zhejiang - Former Residence of Xu Zhimo

The former residence of Xu Zhimo was built by his father in 1926 for Xu Zhimo and Lu Xiaoman's wedding. It is a small Western-style building with more than 20 rooms, equipped with hot and cold water pipes, electric lights, bathrooms, and other facilities. In the 1920s, this was undoubtedly a mansion in rural China. Xu Zhimo loved this house and called it "Xiangchao" (Fragrant Nest). It is said that the interior decoration and room layout were all done by Xu Zhimo himself. After Xu and Lu moved into their new home, they spent a short but sweet time together. Xu Zhimo wrote his honeymoon diary "Meixuan Suoyu" (Meixuan Trivial Words), completed the novel "Jiade" (Family Virtue), and edited the second issue of "Poetry Magazine" here. At that time, Xu's parents also lived in the new house, and his ex-wife, Zhang Youyi, who later became his father Xu Shenru's adopted daughter, also lived in the new house. The main building of the former residence has displays on both sides of the ground floor, showcasing Xu Zhimo's family history, life, thoughts, and literary activities, presenting the poet's short but colorful life. The former residence covers an area of 600 square meters, with two courtyards in the front and back, a three-room, two-story main building, and east and west wing buildings in the front. The back building also has three rooms, and the roof has a terrace that can be climbed. Above the gate of the former residence is a handwritten inscription by the poet's cousin Jin Yong, "Former Residence of Poet Xu Zhimo," and behind the main entrance is a brick carving with the words "Donghai Anya," which should refer to the Xu family's county and ancestral home. The main building has three rooms and two floors, with east and west wing rooms in the front, and three two-story buildings in the back, with a terrace on the top floor. In the courtyard, there is a bust of Xu Zhimo. Above the door of the main hall is a calligraphy by Zang Kejia at the age of 94, "Former Residence of Xu Zhimo." In the main hall, there is a large plaque with black characters on a white background: "Anya Hall," written by Mr. Qi Gong as a replacement for the original plaque that was destroyed. It is a key cultural relic protection unit in Zhejiang Province.