[2025 Haining Attraction] Travel Guide for Former residence of Zhimo Xu (Updated Jul)

#discoverchina Xu Zhimo (1897–1931) was a celebrated Chinese modern poet and essayist, a leading figure of the Crescent Moon School. He is best known for works like “Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again” and “A Night in Florence”. The residence was built in 1926 and served as the home of Xu Zhimo and his wife Lu Xiaoman after their marriage. It was restored and opened to the public in 1999 and designated as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Site in 2011. 📍 Address: No. 38 Ganhe Street, Xiashi Subdistrict, Haining, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province 🕒 Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed on Mondays)

| Check in at four free attractions in one day, a paradise for literary youth. 🎨First stop: Haining Museum 📍 No. 2, Huayuan Road, Xiashi Street ⏰Tuesday to Sunday 9:00-16:30 (last admission at 16:00) ✨Highlights: The Dinosaur Museum is a must! Zhejiang dragon fossils are more shocking than textbooks Xishi Lantern Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall: April limited lanterns are on display The calligraphy and painting museum houses the authentic works of Chen Hao, a master from Haining during the Qing Dynasty. Tips: Wear cheongsam in April and get a free guide, and immerse yourself in the Republic of China for a day 🏰Second stop: Xu Zhimo’s former residence 📍No. 38, Ganhe Street, Xiashi Subdistrict ⏰8:00-17:00, extended to 18:00 during cherry blossom season in April ✨Highlights: The glass sun room in the back garden is a new place for marriage proposals A copy of Momo's manuscript is hidden in the secret compartment of the bookshelf in the study The second-floor terrace faces Dongshan Mountain, and you can take photos that look like "Aimei Xiaozha" at sunset. Tips: Get a free ancient-style round fan at the front desk, and turn into Lu Xiaoman in a long skirt 📸The third stop: China Silk Factory No. 3 Cultural and Creative Park 📍Luotang Riverside, Haizhou Street 🅿Free parking lot can accommodate 200 cars, search "China Silk Factory No. 3" on navigation ✨Highlights: Building No. 6: A glass plank road transformed from an abandoned silk reeling workshop, with supermodels photographed from above Shanmu Waterfront: Foggy in the early morning of April, take a drone to shoot the forest of Hayao Miyazaki LOFT apartment facade: rusted iron plate + creeper, a popular place for wasteland style wedding photos Tips: The light is soft after 4pm, so bring your own reflector to take industrial style photos 📖Fourth stop: Jing'an Study 📍Enter Xishan Park from the north gate, turn right and walk 200 meters ⏰8:30-20:00, extended to 21:30 in April ✨Highlights: The secret passage in the basement leads to the century-old ginkgo tree - There is a reading area for periodicals from the Republic of China in the bay window on the second floor, where you can read "Shijuan" founded by Xu Zhimo. There is a Guqin gathering every Thursday night at 19:00. You need to make an appointment by phone in advance. Tips: Order a cup of "Xiyuan Wenmei" special blend (15 yuan) and write postcards with an old-fashioned fountain pen 🍴End of the night snack: Nanguanxiang Historic District Zhou's hometown stinky tofu: freshly fried with rose sauce Luotang Riverside BBQ Stall: Before the lobster season arrives, try the charcoal-grilled silkworm pupae Dongshan Tea House: 28 yuan per person for self-service tea, available until 2 a.m.

#discoverchina A landmark of Haining, Xu Zhimo’s former residence, built in 1926, showcases a seamless blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles. The elegant villa is composed of four distinct sections, including its entrance hall, main hall, and multiple levels, creating a harmonious and refined space. Inside, historical artifacts from the poet’s life are carefully preserved, offering a window into his artistic world and personal legacy. This remarkable residence is not just a tribute to Xu Zhimo but also a timeless destination that invites visitors to connect with the cultural heritage of Haining. 🏠📜✨

Following in the footsteps of the poet Xu Zhimo, I arrived in Haining. After visiting the No. 3 Silk Factory, Xu Zhimo's Tomb, and the Crescent Moon Theater, I finally arrived at Xu Zhimo's former residence on Ganhe Street. Anya Hall, built in 1926, is a small Western-style building. It was his love nest with Lu Xiaoman and is now a provincial-level cultural relic protection site in Zhejiang. The former residence preserves the poet's manuscripts, letters, portraits, personal belongings, and Lu Xiaoman's paintings. He associated with many prominent figures, and the plaques in the residence were inscribed by Jin Yong, Qi Gong, Kang Youwei, and Zang Kejia. The ancient well in the garden is also known as the "Fountain of Love." Xu Zhimo's study is called "Mei Xuan," because Lu Xiaoman's original name was "Lu Mei." He was willing to put in the effort for this passionate love. To cover the enormous expenses, he even worked five jobs at one time. Before the plane crash, he carried Lu Xiaoman's landscape painting and sought inscriptions from many famous artists. Interestingly, Xu's father later recognized Zhang Youyi as his adopted daughter, so a bedroom was specially set up for her in the former residence, next to Xu's mother's room. The residence also had hot and cold water pipes, electric lights, bathrooms, and other facilities, making it quite a luxurious house. Xu Zhimo came from a prominent family in Haining. The Xiashipu Xu family regarded Songting Gong as their ancestor, and the brick carvings on the former residence bear the four characters "Donghai Anya," the name of their ancestral home. His grandfather, Xu Xingpao, was a businessman for generations and founded the Xu Yufeng Sauce Garden. His uncle, Xu Rongchu, was a great book collector, and his study was named "Zilai Pavilion." His father, Xu Shenru, was the richest man in Haining and a far-sighted industrialist. He founded the Yutong Bank, Shuangshan Silk Factory, and the Electric Light and Telephone Company. He also developed fire-fighting services, was enthusiastic about public welfare, and founded a vocational training center for the poor. In 1910, under the introduction of his uncle, Shen Junru, he studied at Hangzhou Prefecture Middle School, where he met Yu Dafu, and they often discussed literature together. In 1918, Xu Zhimo went to the United States to study with the dream of saving the country, aspiring to be China's Alexander Hamilton. In 1921, introduced by Dickinson, he entered Cambridge University and met Lin Huiyin. In 1924, he joined the New Culture Movement and founded the Crescent Moon Society with Hu Shi, Liang Qichao, and others. In 1932, after his death, he was buried in Dongshan, Haining. The talented woman Ling Shuhua wrote the epitaph "Cold Moon Shines on the Poet's Soul." In 1983, Xu Zhimo's tomb was moved to the banks of Baishui Spring in Xishan, next to the tomb of his son, Xu Desheng. In 1915, Zhang Youyi married Xu Zhimo. After their divorce in 1921, Zhang Youyi quickly recovered, gave birth to Xu Desheng, and taught German at Soochow University. In 1928, she became the vice president of the Shanghai Women's Commercial Bank and concurrently the general manager of "Yunshang Clothing Company," Shanghai's first women's fashion company. In 1926, Lu Xiaoman married Xu Zhimo. Lu Xiaoman was proficient in English and French and was also skilled at playing the piano, acting, and painting. She studied under Liu Haisu and collaborated with Xu Zhimo on the five-act play "Bian Kungang," which became famous in Beijing and Shanghai. Between 1920 and 1928, Xu Zhimo traveled to Europe three times, socializing with famous figures such as Russell, Dickinson, and Hardy. He was a courageous ambassador and bridge for cultural exchange between East and West, hoping for nothing more than "green grass, distant people, a stream of cold water." The poet is gone, but his poetic spirit lives on. He pursued love and freedom throughout his life, singing passionately about the ideals of love and beauty in the world, living for love and dying for love.

Former Residence of Xu Zhimo: Located on Ganhe Street, Haining City, Zhejiang Province, this was the short-term residence of Xu Zhimo and Lu Xiaoman after their marriage. The residence was built in 1926 and has two courtyards. The main building is a two-story, three-room villa with a combination of Chinese and Western styles. It is now a cultural relic protection unit in Zhejiang Province.

The former residence of Xu Zhimo was built by his father in 1926 for Xu Zhimo and Lu Xiaoman's wedding. It is a small Western-style building with more than 20 rooms, equipped with hot and cold water pipes, electric lights, bathrooms, and other facilities. In the 1920s, this was undoubtedly a mansion in rural China. Xu Zhimo loved this house and called it "Xiangchao" (Fragrant Nest). It is said that the interior decoration and room layout were all done by Xu Zhimo himself. After Xu and Lu moved into their new home, they spent a short but sweet time together. Xu Zhimo wrote his honeymoon diary "Meixuan Suoyu" (Meixuan Trivial Words), completed the novel "Jiade" (Family Virtue), and edited the second issue of "Poetry Magazine" here. At that time, Xu's parents also lived in the new house, and his ex-wife, Zhang Youyi, who later became his father Xu Shenru's adopted daughter, also lived in the new house. The main building of the former residence has displays on both sides of the ground floor, showcasing Xu Zhimo's family history, life, thoughts, and literary activities, presenting the poet's short but colorful life. The former residence covers an area of 600 square meters, with two courtyards in the front and back, a three-room, two-story main building, and east and west wing buildings in the front. The back building also has three rooms, and the roof has a terrace that can be climbed. Above the gate of the former residence is a handwritten inscription by the poet's cousin Jin Yong, "Former Residence of Poet Xu Zhimo," and behind the main entrance is a brick carving with the words "Donghai Anya," which should refer to the Xu family's county and ancestral home. The main building has three rooms and two floors, with east and west wing rooms in the front, and three two-story buildings in the back, with a terrace on the top floor. In the courtyard, there is a bust of Xu Zhimo. Above the door of the main hall is a calligraphy by Zang Kejia at the age of 94, "Former Residence of Xu Zhimo." In the main hall, there is a large plaque with black characters on a white background: "Anya Hall," written by Mr. Qi Gong as a replacement for the original plaque that was destroyed. It is a key cultural relic protection unit in Zhejiang Province.

Xu Zhimo: "Quietly I am leaving, just as quietly as I came here; quietly I wave goodbye, to the rosy clouds in the western sky. Softly I am leaving, just as softly as I came here; I wave my sleeves, not even a wisp of cloud will I bring away." (Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again) Former Residence of Xu Zhimo: Located in Xiashi Subdistrict, Haining, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, it was the temporary residence of Xu Zhimo and Lu Xiaoman after they got married. The former residence was built in 1926 and is a small Western-style building with Chinese and Western elements. It is a key cultural relic protection unit in Haining and a national AA-level tourist attraction. The main building of the former residence has displays on the two sides of the ground floor, showing Xu Zhimo's family background, life, thoughts, and literary activities, and presenting the poet's short but brilliant life. Xu Zhimo was born on January 15, 1897 in Xiashi Town, Haining County. He studied at Ding Kaizhi School at the age of 11 and Hangzhou Prefecture School at the age of 15. After graduating from the prefecture school, he studied at three higher education institutions including Shanghai Baptist College. After graduating from Peking University in 1918, he went to study in the United States and then the United Kingdom. He studied at Clark University, Columbia University, University of London, and University of Cambridge successively, and obtained a master's degree. After returning to China, he taught at about ten higher education institutions including Peking University, Central University, and Guanghua University. "There are no footprints in the sky, but I have flown..."

Xu Zhimo's Former Residence is located in Xieshi Town, Haining City, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. It was built in 1926 and covers an area of 600 square meters. It was the temporary residence of Xu Zhimo, a modern Chinese poet, essayist, and the spiritual leader of the Crescent Moon Society, and his wife Lu Xiaoman after their marriage. It is a small western-style building with a combination of Chinese and Western styles. The former residence has two entrances, the main building has three rooms and two floors, with east and west wing buildings in front, and three rooms in the back building. The roof has a terrace that can be climbed. Above the gate, there is a handwritten inscription by the poet's cousin Jin Yong, "Poet Xu Zhimo's Former Residence", and there is a plaque in the main hall that says "Anya Hall". The two sides of the main building on the ground floor display Xu Zhimo's family history, life, thoughts, and literary activities, showing the poet's short but colorful life. The main hall, bedroom, and study are restored and displayed, reproducing the poet's family and living environment.