November 28, 2013 2:41 pm
Original article from AmoyTrip--Let's make travel easy!
As the saying goes ” Up above there is a heaven, down below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou”. Hangzhou is the home to the West Lake and one of China’s most beautiful cities with lots of historical sites and scenic spots. Elites and government officials in various dynasties have chosen Hangzhou to built their rest homes because of its beauty. Hence, there are many historic home sites dotting around the west lake, especial those former residences of elites from the Republic of China in 1900s.
Recently, citizens have picked the best 10 villas built in the Republic of China period in Hangzhou and the following are the top ten well preserved villas around the west lake:
NO.1 Run Villa ( Chinese 润庐）
Along Beishan road and Baoshishan road, stands a villa which is a famous architecture called Run Lu. This villa is more than 80 years old since it is built in 1932. During these years, its host has changed from Ma Wenche(马文车，a famous elite in early Hangzhou to Jin Runquan(金润泉，a famous banker in Republic of China, Nan Huaijin (南怀瑾，to a famous master in Chinese culture. In 1997, a businessman from Jinhua city bought this villa at 2.8 million.
No. 2 Cheng Villa (Chinese 澄庐)
Located at No.189 Nanshan Road, Hangzhou, Cheng Lu is a fancy villa in milk yellow which has a full lake view. It is situated adjacent to Hubin Park in east and Dahua Hotel in west. As you stand at the balcony on the second floor of the villa, the beautiful panorama of the West Lake will be in your sight.
Many elites had closed links with Cheng villa which was built in 1928. The first host of Cheng villa is Sheng Enyi(盛恩颐), the fourth son of Sheng Huaixuan(盛怀宣 ) , who was the leader of the first bureaucrat bourgeoisie in China. Later it became one of Chiang Kai-shek's field headquarters in China and in 1927, Chiang Kai-shek spent his honeymoon with Song Meiling in Cheng villa.
No.3 Jing Yi Villa (Chinese 静逸别墅)
Jing Yi Villa is located at No.5 Geling Lu which is well preserved. The main part of this villa is two small building in European style. Each building has a spacious balcony where you can enjoy a superb view of lake and mountain. The owner of this villa is Zhang Jingjiang (张静江） who was called “ a perfect marvel of the Republic of China” by Sun Yat-sen(孙中山）。
Zhang Jingjiang is one of the famous person in the history of the Republic of China. He assisted Sun Yat-Sen overthrew the last emperor of Qing dynasty and eastablished the Republic of China.
No.4 Heng Villa ( Chinese 恒庐)
Heng Villa is located at No.202 Nanshan Rd with its main buildings is situated at the north and facing the south and steps and porches on both sides. A plaque engraving “Heng Lu” , written by Xu Shaosong(余绍宋) , an expert in Chinese calligraphy and paintings, can still be seen.
Heng Villa was once a property owned by the Zhang's family. Other hosts continue to change over the years, from Zhang Xingyi(张星一) who was a famous doctor to Zhang Shuqian(张叔谦), a professor of Russian and to Zhang Zhongshu(张仲肃), a staff of Industrial Bank. At present this villa is an art museum.
NO.5 Baoqing Villa ( Chinese 抱青别墅）
Walking along Beishan road, you will be attracted by a red-brick architecture in the Baroque style. Well known as a high-end assembly hall, the Baoqing Villa is kept mysterious to most of common people. It is now a best place for young people to take their wedding photos.
The owner of Baqing Villa was Xing Gengxing (Chinese 刑庚星), who was the richest in Huzhou Nanxun during that time. His friend Yu Shaofu (于少甫, a famous architect has rented this villa and renovated it to a stylish hotel called Geling Hotel(葛岭旅馆). The Baoqing Villa is left unoccupied after the West Lake Expo held in Hangzhou in 1929.
Zhang Daopan(Chinese 张道藩), the former Minister of Propaganda of KMT(Kuomintang), had stayed in Baoqing villa for more than three months with his lover Jiang Biwei(蒋碧微), who was the former wife of Xu Beihong (Chinese 徐悲鸿).
No.6 Sui Villa ( Chinese 穗庐)
Sui Villa, is also called Bao Village, was once owned by Bao Bolin, a businessman from Canton. Hence, the villa has a special lingnan style. The two storey villa which is designed in western style is in light green color. Inside the villa, you can still see an old tree which is more than 300 years old.
This private villa has now become a assembly of literatures. Since 2005, this villa has been use as a base for famous writers. It is said that the famous writer Bajin liked this villas very much. In order to memory this great writer , a steel plate engraved with ”assembly SouthEast literature” of Bajin’s handwriting stands in front of the villa.
No.7 Xing Villa (Chinese 省庐)
Xing Lu , also called Zhu Yin Lu (Chinese 竹隐庐), is the most mysterious villas amongst these villas as the host of this villa is still unconfirmed. Xing Lu is located at No36 Beishan Road which was a villa built with green bricks.
It was said that this villa belonged to Wang Feng Gao(王丰镐), a famous diplomat of late Qing dynasty. But since 2006, some unconfirmed research has discoverd that this villa was built by Chen Xizeng (陈希曾) ,who was a majordomo of Chiang Kai-shek.
No. 8 Xi Villa (Chinese 息庐)
Xi Lu which was built in 1927, has such a famous garden-style villa that it has been earmarked on the map of the Republic of China. The host of the Xilu Wang Tan(王潭), who was from Shandong province, built this villa and stayed here the rest life after his retirement. His nephew Wang Zhi(王褆) was one of the four masters from Xiling Seal-engraver’s Society.
NO.9 Chun Run Lu ( Chinese 春润庐)
Same as other villas around the West Lake, Chun Run Lu has links with many elites. This villa was created by Song Chunfang (宋春舫) and his friend Zhu Runsheng(朱润生). Song Chunfang, the father of Song Qi(宋淇) ,who is a famous litterateur in Hong Kong, was a famous theatergoer and a former professor in Peking University and Tsing-Hua University.
After that, the host of Chun Run Villa has changed to Xiang Songmao who is the manager of Wuzhou Pharmacy, a famous company that produced Guben(固本) Brand Soap at that time.
No.10 Yi Yun Jing She (Chinese 逸云精舍)
Yi Yun Jing She has a very good location with a full view of the lake. Blending the west and the east, this Villa is siyuated in the north facing the south, which is surrounded by gardens. There are balconies each on the second and third floors. From Yi Yun Jing She, you can enjoyed a surpeb view of the outer lake, the li lake and Baoshi Hill in the east, and Solitary Hill in the west.
The first host of this villa is Tang Baotai. In 1930s, Jiang Menglin(Chinese蒋梦麟), who was the headmaster of National Zhejiang University, has stayed in this villa. Later, Tang Baotai sold this villa to Dong Yunlong which was a powerful man in Shanghai in 1941. At present it is activity rooms for the retired officials.
