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

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.