Li Hongzhang's Former Residence, officially named Li Hongzhang's Former Residence Exhibition Hall, is located at No. 208, Middle Section of Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street, Luyang District, Hefei City, Anhui Province. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, the former residence of Li Hongzhang, a senior military and political official in the late Qing Dynasty, and also the largest and best-preserved cultural scenic spot of a celebrity former residence in Hefei. The core features of the scenic spot are to display the military and political history of the late Qing Dynasty, the architectural art of Jianghuai folk houses, and the culture of the Li family. It is a comprehensive cultural scenic spot integrating cultural relics protection, historical exhibition, and cultural research and study. The whole residence is a typical Jianghuai residential style in the late Qing Dynasty, adopting a brick-and-wood structure, facing south from north, progressing sequentially from south to north, with regular architectural shape and exquisite carvings. The scenic spot covers a total area of about 3,500 square meters, with a total construction area of about 2,000 square meters. There are about 50 existing houses, divided into two main parts: the main body of the former residence and the Li Family Exhibition Hall, which completely preserves the architectural pattern and historical features of an official residence in the late Qing Dynasty.
History and Culture
Li Hongzhang's Former Residence was built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. It was the core residence of Li Hongzhang and his family in Hefei. After three historical periods: the late Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China, and modern times, it has a history of more than 140 years. As the main advocate of the Westernization Movement in the late Qing Dynasty and the founder of the Huai Army, Li Hongzhang served as the Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall, Governor of Zhili, and Minister of Beiyang. His former residence is an important physical carrier for studying the politics, military affairs, economy, and architectural culture of the late Qing Dynasty.
The former residence suffered damage and reconstruction in the course of historical changes. The Hefei Municipal People's Government launched a comprehensive restoration project in 1997, and it was officially opened to the public in 1999. In 2011, it was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level, and in 2013, it was rated as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, becoming one of the historical and cultural landmarks of Hefei.
The scenic spot focuses on the life of Li Hongzhang, the Westernization Movement, the history of the Huai Army, and the culture of the Li family. It houses more than 1,000 cultural relics, documents, photos, and physical materials, which truly restore Li Hongzhang's life trajectory and the social features of the late Qing Dynasty, with both cultural relic value, historical value, and cultural and educational value.
Main Scenic Spots
Entrance Hall
The Entrance Hall is the first courtyard building of Li Hongzhang's Former Residence, with three bays wide, serving as the main gate of the residence and the first space for visitors to enter. The building is of brick-and-wood structure with blue tile roofs, and the lintel decoration is simple and elegant, reflecting the plain style of Jianghuai folk houses. The hall displays a brief introduction to Li Hongzhang's Former Residence and scenic spot guide signs, serving as the starting point for understanding the overall layout of the residence.
Passage Hall
The Passage Hall is located behind the Entrance Hall, the second courtyard building of the residence. It is a transitional space connecting the front hall and the inner house, and also a place for receiving ordinary guests and handling daily affairs in the old days. The Passage Hall retains the original furniture layout of the late Qing Dynasty, with tables, chairs, screens and other objects placed. The space is open and regular, and the walls display historical pictures and texts related to the early days of the Li Hongzhang family.
Fushou Hall
Fushou Hall is the core main building of Li Hongzhang's Former Residence, the third courtyard hall, with three bays wide and two bays deep. It is an official place for the family to hold celebrations, sacrifices, and receive important guests. The name of the hall implies happiness and longevity. The interior layout is solemn and elegant, with official furniture, plaques, and couplets of the late Qing Dynasty placed. It is the largest and highest-grade hall building in the residence, fully displaying the ritual regulations of an official residence in the late Qing Dynasty.
Li Hongzhang's Bedroom
Li Hongzhang's Bedroom is located in the inner house area on the east side of Fushou Hall, the core living space of the residence. It is restored and arranged according to the original living appearance of the late Qing Dynasty. The room is furnished with carved beds, desks, wardrobes, dressing tables and other furniture. The layout is simple and elegant, restoring the living scene of Li Hongzhang during his lifetime and showing the life style of the upper class in the late Qing Dynasty.
Miss Building
The Miss Building, also known as "Huilan Xuan", is located on the west side of the residence. It is a pavilion-style building for Li Hongzhang's family members, a characteristic building combining Jianghuai folk houses and Huizhou architecture in the late Qing Dynasty. The building has a two-story structure with wooden stair corridors surrounding it and exquisite carved wooden windows. It is an important scenic spot displaying the living scene of noble young ladies in the late Qing Dynasty and the most architecturally distinctive pavilion in the residence.
Li Family Exhibition Hall
The Li Family Exhibition Hall is located in the northern area of the residence, a special exhibition hall covering an area of about 800 square meters. It is divided into several exhibition areas including the Westernization Movement, the establishment of the Huai Army, diplomatic career, and family inheritance. Through cultural relics, objects, photos, documents, multimedia and other forms, it systematically displays Li Hongzhang's life deeds, family history, and major historical events in the late Qing Dynasty, serving as the core cultural exhibition area of the scenic spot.
Tour Route
The standard tour route of Li Hongzhang's Former Residence is a one-way progressive type, with the whole tour on foot, and the total tour duration is about 60 to 90 minutes. The route is as follows: Scenic Spot Entrance → Entrance Hall → Passage Hall → Fushou Hall → Li Hongzhang's Bedroom → Miss Building → Li Family Exhibition Hall → Scenic Spot Exit. This route follows the architectural layout of the residence facing south from north and from outside to inside, covering all core scenic spots completely. The tour circulation is smooth without backtracking, allowing visitors to fully understand the architecture and historical culture of the residence.
Tour Suggestions
- It is recommended to control the tour duration at 60 to 90 minutes, and reserve sufficient time to visit the Li Family Exhibition Hall to gain an in-depth understanding of the history of the late Qing Dynasty and Li Hongzhang's life deeds.
- It is recommended to take advantage of the free guided tour service of the scenic spot, which is provided regularly every day, to accurately understand the architectural details and historical background.
- It is recommended to visit the surrounding Mingjiao Temple and Xiaoyaojin Park together to form a one-day cultural tour of the old town of Hefei.
- Research and study visitors can focus on the Li Family Exhibition Hall, where the documents and physical materials are suitable for historical and cultural study and recording.
- For photo taking, you can focus on the two characteristic buildings of Fushou Hall and Miss Building, which have well-preserved architectural styles and good shooting effects.
Notes
- It is forbidden to bring dangerous items such as flammable, explosive materials and controlled knives into the scenic spot, and pets are not allowed to enter.
- The residence building is a brick-and-wood cultural relic building. Smoking and open flames are prohibited throughout the tour, and it is forbidden to carve or touch cultural relics and displays.
- Keep quiet during the visit, prohibit loud noise, chasing and fighting, and maintain the cultural tour environment of the scenic spot.
- Climbing on doors, windows, pavilions and railings is prohibited. Walk slowly in wooden building areas such as the Miss Building and pay attention to safety.
- Commercial shooting and live broadcasting are prohibited in the scenic spot. The use of tripods, stabilizers and other shooting equipment is not allowed without permission.
- Consciously take good care of the scenic environment, prohibit littering, and abide by the guidance and management of the scenic spot staff.
Transportation
- Bus: Take Hefei Bus No. 1, No. 3, or Bus Rapid Transit Line 4 to Shifu Square Station and walk about 300 meters to the scenic spot; take Bus No. 15, No. 106, or No. 137 to Xiaoyaojin Station and walk about 500 meters to the scenic spot.
- Metro: Take Hefei Metro Line 1 to Huaihe Road Station, exit from Exit 2, and walk about 400 meters to the scenic spot.
- Self-driving: The scenic spot is located on Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street with no special parking lot nearby. It is recommended to park the vehicle at Shifu Square Parking Lot or Parkson Shopping Center Parking Lot and walk to the scenic spot.
- Taxi/Online Car-hailing: Navigate directly to Li Hongzhang's Former Residence Exhibition Hall, and get off at the main gate of the scenic spot.
Opening Hours
Summer opening hours are from 8:30 to 18:00 daily from May 1 to September 30, with entry stopping at 17:30; winter opening hours are from 8:30 to 17:30 daily from October 1 to April 30 of the next year, with entry stopping at 17:00. The scenic spot is open normally on holidays without adjustment to the opening hours, and visitors can enter during the regular time slots.
Tickets
Free admission is available, while manual guided tours require a fee. You can search the official WeChat account "李鸿章故居陈列馆" on WeChat to get the latest updates.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.