The former residence of Hu Xue Yan

The influential businessman Hu Xue Yan lived from 1823 to 1885. As a young man, he started as an assistant in a money house and, with the help of Wang You Ling, the salt magnate of Zhejiang Province at the time, founded his own bank. He became an important man of his time, particularly through his valuable assistance to General Zuo Zhong Tang, who led the military actions to suppress the Taiping Rebellion, and won the favor of the imperial governor of the Qing Dynasty, who appointed him as a court official. He was granted the rare privilege of being allowed to ride and wear yellow in the Forbidden City in Beijing. Over time, he managed to expand his business into areas such as food, real estate, pawn shops, and the import and export of weapons and silk. Later, he founded the prestigious Chinese pharmacy business Huqing Yutang, where he offered very affordable medicine. Eventually, the silk trade ruined him as he fell into a boycott phase of silk imports by the French. The construction of his residence in Hangzhou began in 1872 and was completed in 1875. It covers a total area of 5,815 square meters, and the residential complex consists of thirteen units connected by a garden called Zi Yuan, several elegant towers and pavilions, artificial karst caves, as well as open winding corridors and hidden alleys. It is exactly this labyrinthine layout that now leads me to misfortune, as I lose my sense of direction while visiting. It's been raining all day, and the garden photos suffer greatly because of it, but I try to get some nice shots despite the weather. I stomp up the karst rock and down the stairs, peering into rooms that are often unlit, even though the weather outside is very dreary. Despite the rain, some youthful visitors have dressed in costumes and are taking photos, as well as a bride and groom, who probably wished for different weather on their wedding day. The rooms are mostly furnished with fine wood. I particularly like the decoration of the Hundred Lions Tower, where golden lion heads stare at me. There is also a cellar room of about 7 square meters, which was used as a vault for storing important and precious items. We have long lost track of my in-laws, and in this maze, it is hard for me to know which rooms we have not yet visited. Finally, we all find each other again, follow the exit signs, and the labyrinth spits us all out once more.