Hu Xueyan's Former Residence

Location: Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Cheng Station. Walk along Jianguo South Road to Wangjiang Road, which is about one stop away.

Hu Xueyan was from Hangzhou. He was just a clerk in a bank before. Later, with the support of Wang Youling, the governor of Zhejiang, he opened his own bank. Later, he assisted Zuo Zongtang in the battle to recover Xinjiang and made contributions, and was awarded the title of governor. In addition to running a bank, he also dealt in grain, real estate, pawning, and imported and exported arms and raw silk. This former residence took three years to build and cost 3 million yuan. The pavilions and towers in Jiangnan are displayed vividly. Most of the houses are made of rosewood, mahogany, and golden nanmu, which are high-quality woods. At the same time, the houses are a combination of Chinese and Western styles. All the houses have glass, and all the copper hands are imported from Germany. There is also a small trumpet in the room where he lives to call the servants.

It takes about an hour to visit the garden because many places are not allowed to visit. The overall feeling is that the house is exquisite and comfortable, unlike the old house with a gloomy feeling. As the saying goes, wealth does not last for more than three generations. Unexpectedly, his house was sold for 100,000 yuan ten years later. The buyer was Li Hongzhang's nephew, and Hu Qingyu Tang, which he founded, was also taken over by others. The red-topped businessman must be inseparable from the court. Because he assisted Zuo Zongtang in recovering Xinjiang and made contributions, he was later established by Li Hongzhang as the first flag to defeat Zuo Zongtang. Later, he competed with foreigners for the silk market and hoarded a large amount of silk, which faded and became waste. He was poor in his later years and his wife and children were separated.

This is how to visit Hu Xueyan's Former Residence. Take bus No. 7 from Hangzhou City Station (train station) to Zhongshan Road Station, or take the subway to Anding Road Station, walk 400 meters to Zhongshan Road (Southern Song Dynasty Imperial Street), walk west to the old building on Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street, and walk south across Zhonghe Road (elevated road) to Hu Xueyan's Former Residence. The ticket is 20 yuan. After the visit, walk back to Zhongshan Road, pass the old building wall to Hefang Street Pedestrian Street, and visit Wushan. Visit the copper house in the Hefang Street section, which is free of charge. After 100 meters, visit the Hangzhou Museum, and after coming out, go west to the City God Pavilion. The ticket to the City God Temple is 30 yuan. This basically takes a full day to visit.

Hu Xueyan's former residence is located on Yuanbao Street in the east of Hefang Street and Dajingxiang Historical and Cultural Protection Area in Hangzhou. It was built in the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1872), when Hu Xueyan was at the peak of his career. The mansion project took three years to complete in 1875. The completed former residence is a magnificent mansion with both traditional Chinese architectural features and Western architectural style. The entire building is long from north to south and wide from east to west, covering an area of ​​10.8 acres and a construction area of ​​5,815 square meters. Whether in terms of architecture or the furnishings of the interior furniture, the former residence is the most luxurious residence of Chinese tycoons in the late Qing Dynasty.

I went here after returning from Songcheng. I have lived in Hangzhou for a long time, but this is my first time here. After all, it has only experienced one generation of wealth. The construction of the house cannot be compared with the Qiao Family Courtyard, which has been rich for several generations, but it has the characteristics of a Jiangnan mansion. Especially the garden, with rockery below and castles in the air above, it is like being in the sky. Opposite the artificial lake, fish are swimming in the lake, and in summer, the house is full of lotus flowers, which is unique.

Suggestion: It is best to hire a tour guide when visiting here, because there are many requirements for ancient mansions, and China pays attention to Feng Shui layout, so without a tour guide's introduction, it will be boring to visit.

Hu Xueyan was a businessman in the late Qing Dynasty. He ran a wide range of businesses, including money houses, pharmacies, and arms sales. He was given an official hat because he was involved in politics. This is the origin of the term "red-topped businessman." His former residence is very luxurious, and it also has a private garden, Zhiyuan, which is worth a visit.

The former residence of Hu Xueyan, a business tycoon of his time, is located on Yuanbao Street, south of the west end of Wangjiang Road, east of Hefang Street and Dajingxiang Historical and Cultural Protection Area. Walking into the narrow Yuanbao Street, the south entrance of his former residence is located at No. 18 in the center of the street. Unlike other mansions, its main entrance is quite plain, but once you enter the door, you will know that there is a different world inside.

To the east of Wangxian Pavilion is the former residence of Hu Xueyan, a wealthy businessman. With a construction area of ​​more than 5,800 square meters, it can be called the first residence of a wealthy businessman in late Qing Dynasty. I can give it to you even if you split a fraction of this area into three pieces.

Following other tour groups, I secretly listened to the explanation that Hu's house belongs to the Huizhou architectural style. The entire house is a blend of living rooms and gardens. The entire courtyard has corridors, pavilions and pavilions scattered in an orderly manner, with overlapping rockery, lush trees and flowers, and ponds, bridges and pavilions that add a lot of fun.

It is truly the first luxury house in ancient China. The garden has high pavilions, corridors, pavilions, pools, rockery, etc. It is decorated with golden nanmu, red sandalwood, rosewood, araucaria, etc. It is extremely luxurious and magnificent! The caves are cleverly stacked, and the pavilions and towers are full of the style of Jiangnan water village. No wonder there are girls wearing ancient costumes posing in every corner. I like the Western-style stained glass windows the most. In addition, there are many imported items such as telephones and chandeliers. I sigh again at Hu Xueyan's extravagance and debauchery! Tickets are 20/person. After that, walk to Wuliu Lane. Let's go to some ghost house to be extravagant, okay?

The 20 RMB ticket is worth it! I learned about the family of the richest man in our time, and also got to know Hu Xueyan in depth!

Hu Xueyan, the red-topped businessman, went to Hangzhou. You must go and see it!

As the most famous businessman in the Qing Dynasty, the Jiangnan characteristics of his former residence are worth appreciating.

The former residence of Hu Xueyan, a red-topped businessman of the Qing Dynasty, is also rich in Jiangnan garden elements.

It's worth a visit. If the time is right, there is a free guided tour, which is great.

It covers a huge area, and the entrance is in an alley; the pavilions, towers, bridges, flowing water, rockery, strange rocks, wood carvings and stone carvings are all very exquisite and well worth a visit; the emperor once kept 12 concubines here, and yet he ended up in poverty despite being so rich. It seems that everyone is just an ant under the tide of history.

Hu Xueyan's former residence is one of the few attractions in Hangzhou that charges admission, 20 yuan per person, and cash is the only option. There are few signs in the former residence, and it's hard to get around. The layout of the former residence is similar to that of Jiangnan gardens, with the Hundred Lions Tower in the main hall.

Rich people!!! Envy!!! Just the stage is enough to envy

The ticket is 20 yuan, and there is no other hidden expenses in the park, which is very good.

The main building of Zhiyuan, Yufeng Tower, is the tallest building in the entire former residence. In front of the building is a large rockery built in imitation of Feilai Peak. Inside the rockery is the largest existing artificial cave in China, which is warm in winter and cool in summer. Opposite the Yufeng Tower is a stone railing platform. Looking up at the Yufeng Tower from the platform, it is really magnificent. The platform and the rockery are connected by a nine-curve bridge. There is an octagonal double-eaved pavilion on the bridge and koi in the green pond under the bridge. Every step is a scene, and every place is a scene. Yanbitang is the best place to enjoy the landscape of Zhiyuan. Yufeng Tower is the highest point of the entire former residence.

The ticket is 20 yuan. I went there for the saying that if you want to be an official, you should read Zeng Guofan, and if you want to do business, you should read Hu Xueyan. It's pretty good.

What impressed me most was that the white walls of their house were extremely high, while the garden was small and compact, with rockery and gardens, and the windows and doors of the house were decorated in a unique way.

Carved stone carvings can be seen everywhere, and the exquisite courtyard hidden in the simple white high walls. The ticket is not expensive, 20 yuan, and students can get half price. It is worth a visit

Hu Xueyan's former residence has always been a place I want to visit. I have long wanted to see with my own eyes where a generation of red-topped businessmen lived. Hu Xueyan's life was full of controversy. Many people worship him, while others despise him. His merits and demerits will be judged by history. I only have two insights. One is that the reason for his downfall should be attributed to the loss of "time, place, and people". The right time encountered the corruption of the Qing Dynasty, and the original local business was unique, but it encountered the oppression of foreigners in the Shanghai Concession and lost the location. He fully supported Zuo Zongtang and offended Li Hongzhang, which led to the conspiracy of the Huai faction after Zuo Zongtang's death. He lost the people.

Another insight is that Hu Xueyan eventually fell into decline. After his death, all that was left in the world was Hu Qing Yu Tang, in addition to the legendary story of his life. It can be seen that only by doing charity right can you truly leave your name in history. What the world remembers is not how much money you once had, but what you left for the world. I hope that the billionaires who got rich first can support China's charity.

Check Baidu Map for the address. Yuanbao Street is the entrance and Wangjiang Road is the exit. 20 yuan ticket. There are volunteers to explain the former residence. Nanmu House, large and small gardens, and Baishi Building are the highlights. There is also a hollow rockery that you can drill.

See the travel notes "Remembering Hangzhou - Beauty in the South of the Yangtze River" http://www.mafengwo.cn/i/6744236.html

A branch of Feilai Peak resembles a miniature of the Lion Grove



Hu Xueyan (1823-1885), whose given name was Guangyong and whose courtesy name was Xueyan, was a native of Jixi, Huizhou. He was a famous red-topped businessman in modern China and an entrepreneur in the late Qing Dynasty who was as wealthy as a country. In the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, Hu Xueyan, who was at the peak of his career, spent a huge amount of money and took three years to build a mansion covering an area of ​​7,200 square meters and a construction area of ​​5,815 square meters.



Hu Xueyan's former residence is a combination of Chinese and Western styles, magnificent and ingenious. Whether it is architecture or furniture and furnishings, the materials used are extremely sophisticated. It can be called the first mansion of a wealthy businessman in the late Qing Dynasty. However, the gate is not grand and luxurious. It is said that Hu Xueyan was well aware of the saying "deep love does not lead to longevity, and extreme strength leads to humiliation", so he intended to "hide but not reveal".



Traditional houses have a symmetrical layout. The central axis is the reception hall, which is composed of the sedan chair hall, the main hall (i.e. the Baishi Tower), and the four-sided hall; on the right is the living courtyard, which is composed of the Rongdong Courtyard, Yisha Courtyard, Yuanyang Hall, Qingya Hall, Hele Hall, and Zaifu Hall, for wives and concubines to live in; on the left is the Zhiyuan, which is connected by corridors and a curved pool.



Suggestion: Visitors can browse the Hu family living area, reception area and garden landscape area in order from left to center and then to right.

Hu Xueyan's former residence has exquisite landscape gardening and architecture.

During the Minor Cold season this year, I paid the difference with my park card and went in for a walk. I happened to hear a tour guide explain and learned a lot~

The most profound impression of this time was that when I was strolling in the garden, I was suddenly hit by a faint fragrance. I looked back and saw the sparse shadows of winter plum blossoms, which had the charm of an ink painting.

The architectural style is very much like that of Jiangnan, with meticulous workmanship, neatness and clarity everywhere. If you want to understand the living habits and architectural style of that time, you can go and have a look.

It's OK. This is what Hui-style architecture is like, like a castle, with high walls and large courtyards. It looks quite plain on the outside, but is extremely luxurious with piles of gold and silver on the inside.

If you go to Hangzhou, you must visit Hu Xueyan's former residence. It is worth it. Especially for those who are interested in history, former residences and architecture!

I have read the biography of Hu Xueyan, so I am quite interested. I came to Hangzhou to see the legendary life of the next generation of red-topped businessmen.

The mansion of the red-roofed businessman is worth seeing. Although it is not as large as the Suzhou Garden, the interior is unambiguous, and it is full of wealth.

Hu Xueyan, a wealthy businessman in the late Qing Dynasty, is also a legend. You can go and read about his story of how he became rich.

I went there for the fame of Hu Xueyan. The courtyard is very delicate and compact. But it feels like it has been renovated later or renovated, and it lacks a sense of history. The rockery inside feels fake, not like Taihu stone, and there are obvious cement marks. However, the rockery passage is still okay. But you can still go and have a look. It's not bad. Discount ticket 10 yuan

As the saying goes: An official must read Zeng Guofan, and a businessman must read Hu Xueyan. As a famous red-topped businessman in the late Qing Dynasty, Hu Xueyan's life from rise to fall is full of legends and the imprint of the times. An attraction not to be missed when visiting Hangzhou.

The mansion is so beautiful. It is worthy of being the home of the richest man. He is rich and willful.

The former residence is very large and I almost got lost while walking around. Every corner of the former residence is full of scenery and is very exquisite, giving the feeling of a Jiangnan garden.

The tour time of Hu Xueyan's former residence is about 2 hours. Hu Xueyan was a famous red-topped businessman, politician, and representative figure of Huizhou merchants in modern China. His former residence is a veritable "deep mansion". Hu Xueyan's former residence is very characteristic of Jiangnan gardens, with winding paths, pavilions, terraces, towers, and pavilions, which are staggered in height, elegant and harmonious; waterside galleries, caves and dark rooms, which are tortuous and ingenious. The entire building has a compact layout, ingenious design, and the room and garden are integrated, and the building materials are precious.

Although the place is not big, it is full of surprises

Every glance is a beautiful picture

Absolutely recommend

The main entrance is on Yuanbao Street. It is an inconspicuous small door that locks the infinite scenery in the high-walled courtyard. From ancient times to the present, low-key and wealthy houses have been built in this way. How does the saying go? Happy people are similar, but unfortunate people have their own misfortunes. The former residence has been renovated. Although it does not look original, the style is relatively unified. It is close to Hefang Street, but there are not many tourists here during the short holiday, and the ticket price is reasonable. The garden covers an area of ​​10 acres, which is similar to the Tuisi Garden in Tongli. The layout also maintains the routine of the east courtyard and the west garden. As the main garden, Zhiyuan has slightly more tourists, and the tour starts from the right hand side of the entrance. It is still quite compact. Every small scene has achieved the integration of pavilions, terraces, rockery and pools. There are hundreds of flowers in spring, vines in summer, maples in autumn, and plums and bamboos in winter. The scenery of the gardens in the south of the Yangtze River in four seasons was planned as early as when they were built, and it is ingenious. There is a small garden that is not named in the legend, but I like it very much. I went back to take a look before leaving. The garden is full of spring colors. The shadows of the trees sway in the wind. The light and shadows on the wall also sprouted in this spring, full of vitality. I don't know if it is because of the unified renovation later, the thresholds and window decorations in each place are similar. No wonder my mother feels that she is always in the same place. In fact, each courtyard is partitioned. Looking at the two parallel roads, one leads to the closed house, and the other is the side road leading to the gate. Most of the houses can only be viewed from a distance. I saw a lot of nanmu furniture and a cellar for hiding gold, which is very valuable. The redwood hall where Mr. Hu lived himself is in Zhiyuan, which is also the largest garden in the entire former residence. What a garden, with tall bamboos swaying green. Spring comes to the small peach path, and you can see the green and spring water in the pool. When the flowers bloom and the sun is warm, my sons and nephews follow me, picking wild vegetables, catching stream fish, and drinking a lot of wine. It is the best expression I can think of. Only the rockery in Zhiyuan is allowed to be climbed. It is full of strange rocks and is said to be the largest artificial cave in China. Don't miss the view from the top. The spring is warm and everything looks so transparent. The camphor leaves, the colored windows and the lenses are shining. It seems that there are notes jumping and wandering. The spring water is just born and the spring forest is just flourishing. The green in March is like a piece of jade, which is particularly pleasing. You will feel better if you look at it more. The garden is full of deep and light colors, and everything is glorious. My mother's evaluation is very high. She said that the gardens in Suzhou are not as good as here. It can be seen how subjective people are. What they think is good is good. Correspondingly, pleasing yourself is the secret of happiness.

The layout of the garden shows the wisdom of the ancients. Every place has a combination of Western and Chinese styles.

The former residence is the most luxurious residence of Chinese tycoons in the late Qing Dynasty, with exquisite materials used in both architecture and interior furniture. There are pavilions and towers such as Zhiyuan and Thirteenth Floor in the ancient residence.

"The only way to pass on a family's wealth is to be honest and sincere. There is a saying that "wealth does not last for more than three generations", but Hu Xueyan did not even have one generation of wealth.

This is a place I often go to when I am a volunteer. I even made a PPT for it. This is the former residence of Hu Xueyan, a famous businessman in the late Qing Dynasty. The main door is located in a small alley. It is very hidden and low-key. The door is very small and can only accommodate two or three people at the same time. The wall of the house is very high, which means that wealth should not be exposed. Tickets are required to enter, and student ID cards can be discounted. From time to time, there are activities and performances organized by folk music groups inside.

The content is very rich, and the courtyard is a garden-style building. If you are on the way, it is worth a visit!

The ticket is 15 yuan, and the explanation is 80 yuan. It is definitely worth seeing. The explanation is very important.

There are winding paths leading to secluded places. The whole mansion is not big but very compact. The Zhiyuan Garden on the west side is beautiful and spiritual. The White Lion Tower on the central axis is where Hu's mother, his wife and himself live. Downstairs is a place for banquets and meetings. The longevity stone behind the Hundred Lions Tower is the treasure of the whole mansion. The east side is the living area, with typical corridors and alleys of a wealthy Anhui family. There is the Heletang where seven concubines live together, the Qingya Hall where the younger generations live, etc. The ticket is only 20, it's worth a look.

Today I went to Hu Xueyan's former residence, which really made me feel great. When you go out of the Drum Tower, you can see a tall white building with a large exterior wall, which is Hu Xueyan's former residence. The ticket is 20 yuan, and the special crowds of the elderly, soldiers, students, etc. are half-price. The former residence has been repaired, and it is not so complete in terms of preservation, but you can still see and imagine its original appearance. The former residence is very large, with more than 7,000 square meters, pavilions, waterside galleries, and cave dark rooms. It is very characteristic of Jiangnan gardens, with various winding paths. In short, it is very cost-effective and you can go and have fun. It's great.

The house is not big, but it is full of scenery. The garden design is great. The doors and windows are also very unique. And it is very close to the pedestrian street.

The former residence of this Qing Dynasty red-topped merchant is a veritable "deep mansion and courtyard", and it has obviously undergone a large-scale renovation, so it is "not old". Tickets are 20 yuan per person, and there is a guide. Unfortunately, the guide seems to be more willing to talk about Hu Xueyan's romantic affairs, and people don't know whether they are listening to the explanation or gossip.

As soon as I entered the house, I was shocked by the interior architecture! How could it be so beautiful? And the place is so big, won’t I get lost if I live here? Although the former residences we see now are all modern renovations, we can still see the shadow of the prosperity of the time. This is the servant’s room, and there is also a concubine’s room next to it, but I forgot why I didn’t take a picture of it. This house is really big and beautiful! At that time, I imagined that if I were a concubine, I could live here!

I read Hu Xueyan's life story. He was poor when he was young, flourished for a while, and was in poverty the rest of his life. He had ups and downs, but he didn't live in vain. I played "Fate" in my headphones on a loop. While walking in the deep courtyard, I felt sad about Hu Xueyan's life. No matter whether he was poor or rich, he would eventually be buried in the earth. Life is like a dream. In the dream, you are drunk and fascinated by money, but when you wake up, you are empty. When I watched "Osmanthus Fragrance in August" as a child, I didn't know it was about Hu Xueyan, and I had forgotten most of the plot. But the ending song only has the fragrance of osmanthus in August. It's appropriate to visit this courtyard in the season when the sweet-scented osmanthus is fragrant.

Turning into Yuanbao Street, you can see a 10-meter-high white wall. Hu Xueyan's former residence is hidden inside the wall, giving people a sense of mystery. The construction of its gate is "hidden but not exposed", and the inside of the gate is extremely luxurious. This residence adopts the symmetrical layout of traditional Chinese houses. The central axis area is the reception hall, which consists of the sedan chair hall, the main hall (i.e., Baishi Building), and the four-sided hall. On the right is the living courtyard, which consists of the Nanmu Hall, the Mandarin Duck Hall, the Qingya Hall, the Hele Hall, the Yixia Courtyard, and the Rongdong Courtyard, where groups of wives and concubines live. On the left is the Zhiyuan, which is connected by corridors and connected by a curved pool. Pavilions, platforms, towers, and pavilions are staggered in height, elegant and harmonious. There are also stele corridors, Red Army stone railings, small bridges, and water pavilions, which are carefully designed and every step is a scene. Under the rockery in the garden, the largest existing artificial cave in China is built, which is tortuous and ingenious. The entire building has a compact layout and ingenious design. The rooms and gardens are integrated, and the building materials are all precious. Wood carvings, brick carvings, stone carvings, plaster sculptures and painted paintings are all of superb craftsmanship. Calligraphy and stone carvings by Dong Qichang, Zheng Banqiao, Tang Bohu, Wen Zhengming and other masters are all extraordinary. From the architecture to the interior furniture, the former residence of Hu Xueyan is made of exquisite materials and can be called the first house of a wealthy businessman in China in the late Qing Dynasty.

Hu Xueyan's former residence was built in the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1872). What you see now is the newly restored "former residence", which reproduces the historical style of Hu Xueyan's former residence more than 120 years ago. Turning into Yuanbao Street, you can see a 10-meter-high white wall. Hu Xueyan's former residence is hidden inside the wall, giving people a sense of mystery. The construction of its gate is "hidden but not exposed", and the inside of the gate is extremely luxurious.

From the architecture to the interior furniture, the former residence of Hu Xueyan is made of exquisite materials, and it can be called the best residence of Chinese tycoons in the late Qing Dynasty. Walking through the house is like a maze. The stone railings, small bridges, and water pavilions built on a pool of clear water where red fish swim are the most popular. The roundness within the circle is also unique, making people feel that it not only represents reunion, but also looks like seeking wealth (coin shape). Standing at the pattern of pebble mosaics in the garden, I met an old man who "knows the goods": This is the most precious gift Hu Xueyan gave to his mother. The last time I came here, there were so many people that I couldn't take a photo! Ha..., everyone who heard this, please take a photo quickly.

The home of the richest man is particularly luxurious. The wood carvings and stone carvings are very beautiful. I wish I could take a close-up of each one. It was raining heavily when I went there. Sitting in the corridor was a different experience. The backyard is also beautiful. The rockery is a man-made cave. It is worth a visit

Hu Xueyan's former residence is located on Hefang Street. It was built during the peak of the career of Hu Xueyan, a red-topped businessman in the late Qing Dynasty. It can be called the first mansion of Chinese tycoons in the late Qing Dynasty. It looks ordinary from the outside, but it is a different world when you go inside. It is a highly recommended attraction.

Hu Xueyan's former residence is located on Hefang Street. It was built at the peak of the career of Hu Xueyan, a red-topped businessman in the late Qing Dynasty. It can be called the first mansion of Chinese tycoons in the late Qing Dynasty. It looks ordinary from the outside, but it is a different world when you go in. It is a highly recommended attraction. The pavilions, flowers, trees, and rock carvings in Hu Xueyan's former residence are all very exquisite. There are two kitchens in their house, one is very large and the other is even larger. His house is very large, and the layout is a mystery. It's a bit dizzy to walk around. Going out of this door is a corridor, and going out of that door is a rockery. There are coin patterns on the floor, which is really full of obvious merchant atmosphere. Many details are very beautiful, which can be said to be meticulously crafted and unique. This is another huge kitchen. Going deep into the house is a beautiful garden. There are not many tourists, so you can visit comfortably.

Jiangnan garden architecture, residences of wealthy families.

Nice house. The architecture is nice. The layout is also good. After I came back, I started to watch the TV series "Hu Xueyan"

Hu Xueyan's former residence is located on Yuanbao Street in the east of Hefang Street and Dajingxiang Historical and Cultural Protection Area in Hangzhou. It was built in the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1872), when Hu Xueyan was at the peak of his career. The mansion project took three years to complete in 1875. The completed former residence is a magnificent mansion with both traditional Chinese architectural features and Western architectural style. The entire building is long from north to south and wide from east to west, covering an area of ​​10.8 acres and a construction area of ​​5,815 square meters. Whether it is the architecture or the furnishings of the interior furniture, the former residence is made of exquisite materials and can be called the first mansion of a Chinese tycoon in the late Qing Dynasty.

There are pavilions and towers such as Zhiyuan and Thirteenth Floor in the ancient house. Among them, there are two rare mahogany official sedan chairs worth seeing. Hu Xueyan, a native of Hangzhou, was born in Jixi, Anhui. When he was young, he worked as a clerk in a Hangzhou money shop. Later, with the support of Wang Youling, the governor of Zhejiang, he opened Fukang Money Shop. Because of his contribution to Zuo Zongtang, he was rewarded by the court, and was awarded the title of governor, a red hat, a horse in the Forbidden City, and a yellow jacket. At its peak, Hu Xueyan not only ran a money shop, but also engaged in grain, real estate, pawning, and imported and exported arms and raw silk. Later, he founded Hu Qingyu Tang National Medicine Shop and became a wealthy red-topped businessman.







I came to Hangzhou again because of a sketching activity organized by the school!

It’s more of an architectural feeling, come and see this forest garden!

"It turns out that the red-topped businessman Hu Xueyan was from Qianjiang. The mansion he built, which took him three years and cost 100,000 taels of silver, is located next to Hefang Street." Walking under the white walls and black tiles of the deep courtyard, I felt the benevolence, righteousness, and sincerity of the tycoons in the south of the Yangtze River.

The most luxurious house of a Chinese tycoon in the late Qing Dynasty! It is really luxurious. The high walls open your eyes as soon as you enter. It is so beautiful, so big, and so rich!

Perhaps the biggest problem when visiting here is not being able to find the main gate. No wonder, the main gate is in the alley and the back door is on the street!

Yuanbao Street, where Hu Xueyan's residence is located, can only be regarded as a narrow alley. It is low at both ends and high in the middle, shaped like a Yuanbao. It is also said that it was once a storage place for Zhejiang treasures, so it was named Yuanbao Street. Hu Xueyan was still very low-key.



The construction of the gate is so well-concealed, while the interior is extremely luxurious.

The former residence of Hu Xueyan, the richest red-topped businessman in the late Qing Dynasty, is very attractive to me personally. If you are interested, you may want to go for a walk. The whole garden is very large. It feels like traveling back to that era. I went there on Sunday afternoon. There were not many people, but I could appreciate it. Hu Xueyan's former residence is close to the Southern Song Imperial Street. If you pass by the Southern Song Imperial Street, don't miss it. Hu Xueyan's former residence will definitely leave a deep impression on you.

It's worth a visit! Recommended attractions in Hangzhou! I've been to Suzhou's Humble Administrator's Garden before, but I feel like this place can beat it! The pavilions and rockery are well-arranged! Especially the surprise of the cave! It's worthy of being the first luxury house in China! The ticket price is also a conscience price, 20 yuan, suitable for taking photos in cheongsam!

The former residence of the red-roofed businessman Hu Xueyan is not far from the Hu Qingyu Tang pharmacy, located on Yuanbao Street. I went there by bicycle. From the outside, it looks like a high-walled house with white walls and gray tiles. It is as introverted and steady as a businessman, and does not reveal his wealth. In response to the changes in the world, the government and business have formed a partnership, taking advantage of the situation and dancing on the edge of a knife. His rise was rapid, and his fall was sudden. I saw him build a high building, then I saw him entertain guests, and then I saw his building collapse. The smoke and clouds have dispersed, and the prosperity has ended. Only this honesty of not cheating and the price of truth has passed through a hundred years and has remained fresh over time, and it still lingers in these pavilions, terraces, halls, and boats. The work area and the living area are strictly separated, and they do not interfere with each other, which interprets his beautiful wish of separating politics and business, and work and life. It is a typical Jiangnan garden with an asymmetrical design, dotted with thin, transparent and wrinkled Taihu stones. The secret passage through the rocks is quite interesting, with winding paths and cool turns, reflecting the owner's unique taste and wealthy generosity.

It is simple and elegant, but not many people visit it. It seems a little deserted. I guess it must have been crowded when it was rich. It was raining when I went there. The big water tanks in the corners of each yard were filled with rainwater. Fish tanks? No! They were ancient "fire hydrants".

Located in the city, it is not bad as a free attraction

The former residence is very large, which is a characteristic of ancient architecture. It should have been repaired and is very beautiful for taking photos.

Other people’s homes are so big, so big.

Most people know Hu Xueyan because of Gaoyang's "red-topped businessmen".

He lived a legendary life, was extremely wealthy, and was awarded the title of Second Rank.

In the end, his family property was confiscated and he went bankrupt, and he died of grief and anger.

After death, he couldn't even get a thin coffin.

The person is gone, but his things remain.

Arrived in Hangzhou,

How can we not cherish the memory of this extraordinary man who was once famous and experienced many ups and downs?

Pay tribute to his former residence.

Hu Xueyan's former residence is located at No. 18 Yuanbao Street, covering an area of ​​10.8 acres.

It was built in the 11th year of Emperor Tongzhi's reign (1872) in the Qing Dynasty at a cost of 3 million taels of silver.

The project took three years to complete and was completed in 1875.

After liberation, this mansion became a factory, enterprise, school and residential building.

More than 100 households once lived there.

It became so dilapidated that it was not restored and reopened until 2001.

The former residence is located in an alley, and the gate is inconspicuous.

The simple white high walls make it hard to imagine the extreme luxury in the mansion.

It is said that this is because Hu Xueyan understood the truth that "deep affection does not lead to longevity, while extreme strength leads to humiliation".

Therefore, it implies the intention of "hiding but not revealing".

The ancient house is in typical Ming and Qing courtyard style.

But it also has Western architectural features.

The door bolts and telephones are imported from Siemens in Germany.

There are also Western glazed doors and windows.

From pavilions to furniture, everything is carefully arranged.

The carved beams and bricks are stacked on top of each other.

It combines the beauty of Jiangnan gardens with the ingenuity of Wu and Yue culture.

The entire building adopts a symmetrical layout with ingenious design.

The living room and the garden are integrated, and the building materials are mostly red wood.

For example, red sandalwood, rosewood, ginkgo, and beech.

The residence of the most favored concubine was said to be made of golden nanmu.

Comparable to the Forbidden City in Beijing.

"The only way to pass down family virtues is to be honest and sincere, and the only way to deal with people is to be simple and straightforward."

This is a couplet in the sedan chair hall at the entrance of Hu Xueyan's former residence.

The entire structure of the sedan chair hall is made of ancient ginkgo wood.

Passing through this couplet, the central axis is the reception hall.

It consists of the carriage hall, the main hall (i.e. the Hundred Lions Building), and the four-sided hall;

On the right is the living courtyard, which consists of Nanmu Hall, Yanyan Hall, Qingya Hall, Hele Hall, Yixia Courtyard, and Rongdong Courtyard.

It is specially provided for 12 wives and concubines to live in.

On the left is Zhiyuan, which is connected by corridors and a winding pond.

The pavilions and towers are scattered at different heights, elegant and harmonious.

There are also stele corridors, stone railings, small bridges, and water pavilions.

Every step is carefully designed and every step is a beautiful scene.

Each courtyard has a large copper vat.

A copper pipe as thick as a bowl extends from the eaves to near the ground.

The lower end tilts outward and is inserted straight into the large copper cylinder.

This was the rainwater collection system at that time.

The rainwater on the roof and courtyard wall can be drained through the designed culvert.

It flows from the pipe into the copper vat and accumulates.

At the same time, avoid dripping from the eaves.

The yard will not be slippery due to flooding.



Baishi Building

The railings are decorated with lions carved from rosewood.

It is a place used for major festivals and banquets.

Upstairs are the bedrooms of Hu's mother, Hu Xueyan and his first wife.

The extreme luxury of Hu Xueyan's mansion is breathtaking.

With the current rush for money in China's tourist attractions,

The ticket to Hu Xueyan's former residence is 20 yuan.

Really good value for money.

As a local of Hangzhou, I have only visited the former residence of Hu Xueyan, a famous red-roofed businessman in Hangzhou, today! I am so ashamed! It is a strange rule that locals often do not know a lot about many popular local attractions or delicacies. Are they like me, right at my doorstep, with plenty of time and opportunities! I am totally wrong! How much have I missed! This former residence is so big that it makes people feel lost! You can imagine how luxurious it was when it was glorious! Just like a child who was visiting asked, how much does this house cost? ! It is definitely a mansion among mansions! As a house, it is far better than the mansions in Suzhou, and it is more worth visiting and appreciating! The above is my personal opinion! For reference only!

The former residence of the red-topped businessman Hu Xueyan is located on Yuanbao Street. It is a small door, but there is a lot of things inside. The building area is 5,815 square meters. The buildings are all built with precious materials such as ginkgo, nanmu, rosewood, red sandalwood, araucaria, and Chinese beech. Various wood carvings, brick carvings, stone carvings, piled sculptures, and colored paintings are dazzling! The whole courtyard has a delicate structure, pavilions and waterside pavilions. If you don't have a good sense of direction, you will get lost directly. The ticket is 20 yuan, and 5 yuan with a park card. You can hire a tour guide to explain, or you can follow others to listen. It is definitely worth going.

I have to recommend it, it really feels like walking in a maze, the ticket is worth it!

The ticket is 20 yuan, which is not expensive. The transportation is quite convenient. The entrance of the former residence is very simple, even simple to the point of being inconspicuous. But there is a lot of content inside. If you are interested in the history and garden architecture of the late Qing Dynasty, I recommend it.

When you are at the end of your rope, you will find a way out! The best embodiment of Suzhou-style gardens in Hangzhou, you should go there just for the "red-topped businessman"!

Hu Xueyan's former residence is located on Yuanbao Street in the east of Hefang Street and Dajingxiang Historical and Cultural Protection Area in Hangzhou. It is known as the first mansion of Chinese tycoons in the late Qing Dynasty. If you don't enter the house, you can't imagine the luxury inside. The tall horse head wall blocks the inside. It is said that in order to achieve the effect of not showing wealth, the ancient rich people like to build their courtyard walls high. As the saying goes: Zeng Guofan in politics, Hu Xueyan in business. I am still quite interested in Hu Xueyan. I have read some books about Hu Xueyan and the film and television work "Hu Xueyan" starring Chen Daoming. I have to say that Mr. Chen Daoming played the role of Hu Xueyan very well. At that time, I always thought that Hu Xueyan was like this in the film and television. I went there in 2013 and bought a student ticket for 10 yuan. As a private residence, Hu Xueyan's former residence is very large, with various pavilions, courtyards and exquisite architectural styles. The former residence of Hu Xueyan that we see now seems to have been renovated by the Hangzhou Municipal Government at a cost of more than 100 million yuan. It is really a rich man, and he is worthy of being the richest man in China at that time. The former residence of Hu Xueyan is mainly divided into several types, including housing, garden, pharmacy, and ancestor worship. It has everything. It is said that there was a Hu Qingyu Tang in it at that time. As we all know, Hu Qingyu Tang also belonged to Hu Xueyan at that time, but later it was acquired by others after Hu Xueyan's decline. It is amazing to have a pharmacy in your own home. Hu Xueyan made his fortune because of the Qing Dynasty, and his family fell because of the Qing Dynasty. Businessmen who cooperate with the government can only say that high profits and high risks.

The tour time of Hu Xueyan's former residence is about 1 hour. For this kind of cultural landscape, it is best to visit it with the guidance of a tour guide, or read a lot of information and watch relevant film and television works before. In this way, you will not feel nothing when you visit it alone.