HANGZHOU is famous for turning out distinguished artists, writers, intellectuals, businessmen and entertainment celebrities. Many important figures were also reformers and fierce critics of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Many of their residences still stand today and a number of them are imposing mansions in scenic sites, adding to what the city's aura of culture.

Listed as protected cultural relics, many of these residences are open to the pubic, free of charge. A number have also been turned into small museums where visitors can learn about famous figures and their times.

One of the most famous sites is the mansion of renowned businessman Hu Xueyan, who established the traditional Chinese medicine store Hu Qing Yu Tang in 1874. Residence, TCM pharmacy and museum are now located on the same site, which is also a scenic attraction.

But there are many residences that are equally interesting but less famous. Shanghai Daily recommends eight worth visiting, four today and four in tomorrow's Hangzhou Special.

Former residence of Lin Fengmian (á?·???1ê?ó)

Lin Fengmian (1900-1991) was a pioneer in modern Chinese painting who combined Chinese and Western styles and subject matter.

He was also an major innovator in Chinese art education. In 1928, with encouragement from Cai Yuanpei, the president of Peking University, Lin helped found what would become the China Academy of Art; he was its first principal.

Lin's residence, an elegant cottage, features gray brick with a black tile roof, surrounded by lush vegetation.

Designed by Lin himself in 1934, the first floor contains bedroom, living room and dining room while the second floor includes study and studio. It used exposed-beam construction.

Lin lived in the house before the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945). He left during the war and returned after 1945, living there until 1951.

Many of his early works were destroyed during the war and during the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976). All the paintings hung on the walls today are reproductions. His later work has been preserved.

The city government spent 2 million yuan (US$313,170) to renovate the building after Lin died in 1991. In 1999, a century after his birth, the house was turned into a memorial. His most famous student, contemporary painter Wu Guanzhong (1919-2010), left a memorial inscription.



Address: 3 Lingyin Rd

Tel: (0571) 8796-9258

Admission: free



Former residence of Gong Zizhen features carved beams and colorfull

y painted rafters. Former residence of Gong Zizhen (1¨×???1ê?ó)

Poet, calligrapher and activist intellectual Gong Zizhen (1792-1841) had a harsh critic of the Qing Dynasty.

He took a strong stand against the opium trade and became an ally of Lin Zexu, a scholar and Qing Dynasty official who opposed the trade in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.

Gong was considered an "eccentric" in personal habits who defied ritual and norms. His ideas had a great impact on other reformers.

Before Gong was born, the Gong family had lived in Hangzhou for more than 400 years.

The local government renovated the residence in 1988.

As a traditional Chinese mansion, it contains pavilion, rockery, pond, stone bridge and classical garden. The ornate building has carved beams and colorfully painted rafters. Inside four exhibition rooms cover Gong's biography, family history, historical materials, poetry and writings.

A bronze statue of Gong stands in the main hall.



Address: 16 Mapo Lane

Tel: (0571) 8706-8558



Admission: free

Former residence of Sha Menghai near West Lake features elements of British architecture. Former residence of Sha Menghai (é3??o￡1ê?ó)

Calligraphy master Sha Menghai (1900-1992) was widely regarded as the preeminent figure in modern Chinese calligraphy.

He was also a master of seal carving, a master of the Shanghai School of painting and writer about the aesthetics of traditional Chinese art.

Sha was a professor at Zhongshan University from 1929, Zhejiang University from 1949, and the China Academy of Art from 1963.

The brick and timber residence is on a busy shopping street, near West Lake. Built in the 1920s, it features elements of British architecture.

All the items in the house are original. The first floor is open to the pubic and visitors can visit Sha's study where he wrote calligraphy, his bedroom and parlor. The second floor is closed.

Sha moved to Hangzhou in 1949 and lived in the house until his death in 1992.



Address: 15 Longyou Rd

Tel: (0571) 8703-1616

Admission: free



Former residence of Zhang Binglin(??±t÷?1ê?ó)

Zhang Binglin (1868–1936) was a classics scholar, philosopher and revolutionary during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

An activist as well as a scholar, he wrote many political works and was jailed for three years.

After his release, Zhang became the chief editor of the newspaper Min Bao that strongly criticized corruption throughout the Qing Empire. He is said to have coined the phrase "Zhonghua Minguo," which eventually became the name of the Republic of China (1911-1949).

Zhang's elaborate mansion in Cangqian Town includes four houses connected by a covered walkway. The first house on the street was a grocery store in the Qing Dynasty. The second house has now been turned into an exhibition hall displaying aspects of Zhang's life and work. The other two houses were where Zhang and his brother lived.

The three oldest houses were built by Zhang's great grandfather before the Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) while the last one (residence of Zhang's brother) was built in early years of the Republic of China.

The ornate mansion contains elaborately carved wood furniture.



Address: 59 Cangqiantang Rd, Cangqian Town, Yuhang District

Tel: (0571) 6522-6618

Admission: free



(This is the first of a two-part article featuring the residences of former celebrities in Hangzhou. The second part appears tomorrow.)