Yuan's residence

Yuan's residence, built in 1918, is of Nordic architectural style. On the East Bank of Haihe River, the German style small western style building is the only remaining German style small western style building in Tianjin from the 16th century to the 18th century. Now it's an exhibition hall with celebrity paintings, calligraphy and antique furniture, and free lectures to bring you into yuan's era

Yuan's residence

On the East Bank of the Haihe River lies a small western style building with a red steep roof and bell shaped lighting Pavilion. This small western style building is Yuan Shikai's old residence. It is the only remaining German style building in Tianjin from the 16th century to the 18th century.

General situation

Yuan Shikai started his political career in Tianjin. Yuan Shikai built a large number of luxury houses in Tianjin. However, the most special one is the small German style building at the intersection of Haihe East Road and Minzhu road. From the other side of the Haihe River, the most eye-catching feature of the residence is

The high and steep double sloping roof supported by the walls around, and the daylighting pavilion built on the roof. According to reports, this kind of modeling originated in the early Italian Renaissance, evolved in the German architectural style, and became a "button clock" with external edges. This simple and lively style established the unique historical position of German architecture.

Today, when we walk into this small western style building, we can still experience its unique architectural style. The internal structure of the small building contains many medieval relics, which is of great research value.

Yuan Shikai was once prominent in the modern history of China. He was the leader of the Northern Warlords. After the revolution of 1911, he stole the post of temporary president. Later, he restored the monarchy and was denounced by the people. He and some of his relatives, with the help of its power, built many residences in the concession. There are two yuan's residences in the concession. One is the former residence of yuan Keding, the eldest son of Yuan Shikai (now No. 42 Minzhu Road). The other is the "Yuan's residence" mentioned earlier.

It is said that the Yuan's old house, located at 39 Haihe East Road, Hebei District (the former Jintang Second Road in the Austrian concession), was purchased from the Austrian concession at a low price shortly after Yuan Shihai became governor of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang. It was commissioned by German and British Architects to design and build it. It is said that this place is "priceless and has excellent Feng Shui". The building was built in 1917-1918. After the completion of the building, Yuan Shikai has been dead for two years. It is more accurate to say that he is not so much the yuan family as the "descendants of yuan family".

It is also said that Yuan's residence is the residence of yuan Naikuan, Yuan Shikai's nephew, who not only has a clan relationship with Yuan Shikai, but also is his political confidant. After 1910, he successively served as the magistrate of Tianjin, the chief Quartermaster of Gongwei army, the vice governor of Mongolia in Xianghong banner, and the organizer of the preparatory kerosene mine. In 1915, he actively carried out activities for Yuan Shikai to become emperor. After Yuan Shikai died, he lived behind closed doors. In 1923, he was appointed as the chief agricultural and commercial officer of Gao Lingwei's cabinet. In 1924, he left his post and worked as an apartment in Tianjin.

This building is a European classical three story building. It is the evolution of "Roman style" in the middle ages, and integrates the architectural techniques of Germanic people. The red steep roof is built with a bell shaped light Pavilion in the middle of the ridge, which is modeled on the dome of "St. Mary's Cathedral" in the early Renaissance of Italy. The shape of the building adds a reverse curve to that of Italian architecture, forming the style of German architecture The unique style, the combination of porch square columns and columns, is quite rare in Tianjin architecture. The second floor of the east side of the main building has a Byzantine style small pointed dome and tower against each other, which is the German national architectural style. There is also a back garden, with rockery, veranda, fishing Pavilion, flower cellar, etc.

What is most worth mentioning is that there are "hiding place" and "escape place" in this building. The location of the hiding place is a small door at the right corner of the second floor. There are reinforced concrete stairs inside the door, which can go up to the roof and down to the basement. If you close the door, you can't find the stairs up the stairs and to the basement. "Escape place" is an iron staircase beside the pavilion on the third floor, which can lead directly to the other doors of the back garden, from which you can escape. In the comprehensive development and reconstruction of Haihe River, the building has been restored and is now a municipal cultural relic protection unit.

Transportation guide

Address: the intersection of Hedong road and Minzhu Road, Hebei District, Tianjin

Bus routes: take bus No.14, 462, 640, 802, 841 and get off at Minzhu Road station.

Introduction to Yuan Shikai

From September 16, 1859 to June 6, 1916, the Han nationality was born in Xiangcheng, Henan Province. He was a famous political figure in modern Chinese history. He was once the leader of the Northern Warlords. During the revolution of 1911, he became the first president of the Republic of China. During his reign, he actively developed industry, unified the currency system, and established a modern judicial and educational system. At first, he advocated the establishment of a strong country and a strong central government, but later, under the instigation of constitutionalists such as Yang Du, he was overthrown.

Address: No.39 Haihe East Road, Hebei District, Tianjin

Longitude: 117.195197

Latitude: 39.138646

Tel: 022-26882100

Tour time: 2-4 hours

Traffic information: near Ping'an Street, democracy Road, Shengli Road, Italian style street and other bus stops.

Opening hours: 09:00-17:30