Shen Zengzhi's Former Residence, Jiaxing, Zhejiang

Shen Zengzhi's Former Residence was built in the late Qing dynasty. It faces south and is made of brick and wood. It has three courtyards and a total area of 879 square meters. The residence has a corridor, hall, garden, and more. In 1910, Shen Zengzhi returned home due to illness and lived here in seclusion to study and write. In 1958, Shen Zengzhi's descendants donated more than 40 rooms to the government. In 2001, the residence was renovated and opened to the public for free. The first courtyard has five rooms, with a hall in the middle and two side buildings connected to the second courtyard to form a corridor. The second courtyard has five rooms, with a hall in the middle and two rooms on each side. The third courtyard has three rooms, with a well on the east side. There are five bungalows behind the building. The main gate faces south and has a gatehouse. There are five bungalows and a side gate to the east of the main gate. The exterior of Shen Zengzhi's Former Residence is intact, and the original appearance is basically preserved except for the garden, which has been built over. It is a key cultural relic protection unit in Zhejiang Province. Shen Zengzhi (1850–1922), courtesy name Zipei, was a jinshi in 1880 and served as the head of the Guizhou Department of the Ministry of Justice. In 1910, he returned home due to illness and lived here in seclusion to study and write. The residence has an exhibition room displaying Shen Zengzhi's life and achievements, with themes including "Life and Deeds," "Academic Master," and "Calligraphy Master."