Hu Xueyan's Former Residence in Hangzhou

The Former Residence of Hu Xueyan was the residence built by Hu Xueyan, a "red-topped businessman" in the late Qing Dynasty. Construction began in the 11th year of Tongzhi's reign (1872) and was completed in the first year of Guangxu's reign (1875). It covers an area of ​​7,230 square meters and has a construction area of ​​5,815 square meters. Hu Xueyan's former residence faces south and has a rectangular plan. It consists of three groups of buildings in the east, middle and west. The middle part is a courtyard with a symmetrical layout along the north-south axis, the eastern building complex is a residential courtyard, and the western part has a garden-style hall and corridor layout. It is a typical representative of private luxury houses in the Jiangnan region of China during the late Qing Dynasty. The materials used in both the architecture and the interior furniture are exquisite, making it the most luxurious residence of a Chinese tycoon in the late Qing Dynasty. On June 25, 2006, Hu Xueyan's former residence was announced by the State Council as the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. The former residence is well preserved and worth a visit.