Explore the ancestral home of Xu Songming and experience the elegance of a master of his era

Xu Songming (1890-1991), born in Xinchang, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, was a pioneer of modern higher education and modern medical education in China, and the founder and cornerstone of Chinese pathology. He served as the president of five national universities including Peking University and Tongji University for a total of 20 years, and was hailed as a model university president. Xu Songming also participated in the Xinhai Revolution and the Northern Expedition. On November 22, 1990, he joined the Chinese Communist Party at the age of 100. Xu Songming's ancestral home was originally built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, located at No. 54, Aohiao Li, Meihu, Xinchang County, Shaoxing City, and has now been relocated to the north of Lijiang River in the Xinchang historical and cultural district. At the age of 13, Xu Songming left Shaoxing to pursue education and seek the salvation of the nation. The overall layout of the ancestral home is a traditional courtyard house, with the main building facing east and the entrance gate facing south, framed by Shikumen (stone gate). The architectural pattern is complete, with exquisite craftsmanship in wood carving, stone carving, and brick carving. The ink paintings on the Shikumen are fresh and elegant, with simple strokes and vivid character images. The courtyard is mainly divided into six areas: the life exhibition hall, patriotic theme collection, central hall, national salvation theme collection, national rejuvenation theme collection, and the hall of remembrance and respect. Directly opposite the central hall is the black-tiled and white-walled memorial wall of the former residence, composed of stone couplets, stone plaques, and a bronze statue. The stone plaque is inscribed with 'A Master of His Era,' written by Wang Meng, the former Minister of Culture. The bronze statue of Xu Songming below the stone plaque was sculpted by Wu Weishan, the director of the National Art Museum of China. 📍Detailed address: Historical and Cultural District north of Lijiang River, Xinchang County, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province Ticket price: Free ⏳Time reference: Half an hour