Xue Fucheng's former residence, also known as the Xue Family Garden, is the biggest of its kind in Wuxi. Once belonging to the late Xue Fucheng, a famous ideologist and diplomat during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the garden was built in 1894 and covers an area of 21,000 square meters.

The grand residence integrates both Chinese and Western architectural styles and has an open plan design fit for social interactions. As one of the prominant large bureaucratic mansions in China's modern history, the place carries an important historic, research and tourism value and fills a void in China's architectural history. The residence is known as the first grand mansion in regions south of the Yangtze River.

The State Council named the residence an important culture relic site under national protection in June 2001 and the National Tourism Administration rated it a 4A scenic spot in December 2005.

Xue's former residence features a luxurious hall that is considered by many to be grander than a royal palace. Its circular building features 11 rooms of standard widths, which enables tourists to savor what royal garden has to offer. As the home of a former diplomat, the architectural complex features western-styled sliding doors and a private room for billiards, fully reflecting the owner's forward thinking of the day and the city's development in ancient times.

The residence features an open court-yard adorned with beautiful gardens. The gallery bridge, pavilion and hillstone work together to create a classic garden typical of regions south of the Yangtze River. Housed within the garden are ideal sites for watching opera performances and sipping tea. Western-style theater design was applied to the building to help amplify art performances, something that was rare in China at the time.

Perhaps there is no better place for visitors to experience water, courtyards and opera in a garden setting south of the Yangtze River than the residence.

The residence is now home to Wuxi's intangible culture heritages. The refined embroidery, bamboo carvings and Huishan clay figurines are testament to Wuxi's special folk customs and cultural resources.

Contact: Chen Yu

Tel: 0510-82724706; 0510-82733829

Address: No 152, Xueqian street, Wuxi city (Near Wuxi science and technology building).

Website: www.wxxjhy.cn

Price: 25 yuan per person (daytime); 30 yuan (evening)

The waterside opera stage in Xue Fucheng's former residence. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

?Wuben Building - the main hall of Xue Fucheng's former residence [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Evening scene of the circular building at Xue Fucheng's former residence. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The west garden of Xue Fucheng's former residence [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]