Journey to the Past ~ Zhang Xueliang Former Residence in Shenyang (National Level 4)

The Zhang Xueliang Former Residence is located at No. 46 Shaoshuai Mansion Lane, Chaoyang Street, Shenhe District, Shenyang City. It was the official residence and private home of Zhang Zuolin and his eldest son Zhang Xueliang, covering a total area of 53,000 square meters with a total building area of 35,000 square meters. The former residence is a large complex composed of four parts: the West Courtyard, Central Courtyard, East Courtyard, and buildings outside the courtyards. Central Courtyard: A traditional three-entry, four-sided courtyard facing south, it is a Chinese traditional mansion-style building. It covers 3,900 square meters with a building area of 1,460 square meters; following the late Qing Liao South residential style, it features blue bricks, gray tiles, and a hard mountain-style roof with carved beams and painted rafters. Decorations such as brick carvings, stone drums, and window grilles are themed around "Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity, and Happiness" and "Pine and Crane for Longevity," showcasing the essence of folk craftsmanship. The oil-painted columns of the porch are uniquely distinctive, and the inkstone relief carvings on the walls below the windows, such as "Immediate Promotion to Marquis," are exceptional, serving as precious artistic materials for studying ethnic architecture and folk customs. East Courtyard: The Large Qing Building and Small Qing Building; the Large Qing Building (built in 1922) is Romanesque in style, with blue brick walls, grand and solemn, and was once Zhang Xueliang’s office and reception area for important guests. The Large Qing Building has a building area of about 2,460 square meters, with three floors and a height of 37 meters, making it one of the highest points in Shenyang at the time. The entire building is magnificent, with vivid and exquisite three-dimensional exterior relief sculptures, and the murals decorating the main rooms inside are uniquely crafted with high artistic value. The Small Qing Building, located in the East Courtyard of the Zhang Mansion (built in 1918), is situated at the center of the Zhang Mansion garden and is also known as the "Garden Flower Hall." It is a two-story brick-wood structure blending Chinese and Western styles, commonly called the Small Qing Building due to its blue brick and tile construction. Covering 450 square meters, the entire building is shaped like a concave character. The decorative lines of the Small Qing Building’s eaves, window adornments with stone guards, and the circular parapet wall at the top of the rear of the building are typical Western architectural features. West Courtyard: The Red Building Group and the West Courtyard Building, constructed with red bricks. The Zhang Xueliang Former Residence in Shenyang, also known as the "Zhang Mansion," is an important witness to modern Northeast China’s history, blending Chinese and Western architectural styles and possessing both historical and artistic value.