Plan at a glance
Location and focus
Liu's Former Home is on South-East Street in Nanxun Ancient Town, near the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming. It is a historic residence with Chinese halls, red-brick exteriors and Western decorative details, making it a practical stop on a southern-district walking route from the South Gate.
The main visit usually takes about 30–60 minutes. Visitors interested in architecture can allow more time for the stained glass, patterned tiles, courtyards and gate buildings. Liu's Former Home has its own ticket and admission arrangements; being close to another residence does not mean that the two share an entrance or opening hours.
Tickets and opening hours
Liu's Former Home can be visited with a separate ticket and may also be included in Nanxun's core historic-site combination ticket. The scope, price and validity of a combination ticket follow the option available that day. For planning, allow roughly 8:00–17:00 during the day; ticket checks may end before closing, and seasonal conditions and crowds can affect admission.
If you are also visiting Xiaolianzhuang and Jiaye Library and the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming, schedule the indoor attractions with the tightest time limits first. The public streets can provide a buffer before or after, but all-day access to the town does not mean the residence will remain open into the evening.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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Red-brick exterior and mixed layout
The red brick, arches and façade details of Liu's Former Home are easy to recognise. Inside, look at the way Chinese halls sit alongside Western decoration. The relationships among the southern, central and northern courtyards are the main clue to understanding the residence's layout.
It suits visitors interested in architecture, modern-era merchant homes and decorative details. The building and public displays are the main focus; clothing, photographic results and lighting conditions are optional extras rather than reasons to plan the visit.
Stained glass, patterned tiles and courtyards
Stained glass, carved windows, patterned tiles and fireplaces need to be viewed at close range indoors, and the light changes with the weather and time of day. Follow the venue's signs before taking photographs, keep passageways clear, and do not touch doors, windows, furnishings or barriers.
The rear garden and courtyards are useful places to slow down, especially after several residences in a row. Although the spaces are close together, the visit still follows the rooms and route open that day; there is no need to try to enter every interior area.
Who this suits
Visitors interested in architectural culture, local history in the modern era and short old-town walks are a good fit. It also works in a half-day Nanxun route, but stone surfaces and indoor thresholds are inconvenient for large luggage, strollers and companions who move slowly.
Build your day
About 30–40 minutes: quick visit
Enter through the main gate, see the red-brick exterior and main courtyard, follow the open route through the main building, then leave via the courtyard and rear garden. With limited time, prioritise the gate buildings, arches, stained glass and the relationship between the Chinese and Western courtyards before deciding how long to stay in each display room.
This route suits visitors using Liu's Former Home as one stop in the southern district. After leaving, continue to the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming or Xiaolianzhuang, or return to the public streets for a break; nearby attractions still have separate tickets and admission checks.
About 1 hour: architectural-details route
On a first visit, start at the gate building, then see the Chinese halls, historical or display areas, red-brick main building and stained-glass details before finishing in the rear garden. Follow the on-site route, and if a room is temporarily closed, continue through the other public spaces.
When visiting several southern residences, place the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming and Liu's Former Home in adjacent time slots to reduce backtracking. If someone in your group needs a break, wait in the public streets rather than at the residence entrance or in a narrow passage.
Half-day southern-district combination
Enter from the South Gate, visit Xiaolianzhuang and Jiaye Library first, then walk to the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming and Liu's Former Home. Decide whether to continue north based on the group's energy. The southern attractions are relatively close, but indoor visits, queues and photo stops all take time.
For a more relaxed day, leave the southern district after Liu's Former Home and walk along the river. Do not shorten the residence visit or ignore the return route just to catch a fixed evening activity.
Get there
From Nanxun Station and the South Gate
From Huzhou Nanxun Station, take a taxi to Nanxun Ancient Town's South Gate; the ride takes about 10–15 minutes. From the South Gate, the main southern residences are about a five-minute walk away. Liu's Former Home is near the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming, so linking them on foot is more practical than repeatedly calling a car inside the town.
For driving, use an official parking area near the South Gate and enter on foot. The town's lanes and residence entrances are mainly pedestrian areas, so navigating to the parking area is easier to execute than navigating directly to the residence door.
Moving around the southern district
Liu's Former Home and the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming are close, and Xiaolianzhuang and Jiaye Library are within the same southern walking area. Stone paths, bridges and thresholds slow the walk; reduce the number of attractions if you have luggage or a stroller.
You can continue on foot from the south to the north, or use a water bus or rowing boat if the day's schedule fits. Water activities have separate docks, ticket types and operating arrangements; use the walking route if the departure does not work.
Know before you go
Tickets and neighbouring residences
Liu's Former Home, the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming, Xiaolianzhuang and Jiaye Library are separate attractions. Even when a combination ticket is available, follow each attraction's entrance and open route. Confirm whether other sites are included and how much admission time remains before entering.
The public streets are open for walking, but this does not mean that Liu's Former Home is open all day. Boats, parking, food and evening activities are also separate from the residence ticket and should be calculated separately when planning.
Surfaces, crowding and photography
The southern part of Nanxun mainly has stone paths, while the residences add thresholds, courtyard turns and narrower rooms. Wear flat shoes with good grip and slow down after rain. When it is busy, do not stop in doorways, at stair entrances or in front of stained glass for a long photograph.
The appearance of stained glass and interior decoration depends on weather, time and on-site lighting. Follow the photography signs, do not use prohibited equipment, touch architectural details or enter closed areas.
Fitting it into the day's route
If Liu's Former Home is your last southern stop, leave time to exit, walk to the river or return to the parking area. Afternoon or evening light may show the red brick and courtyards differently, but the result depends on the weather and cannot be guaranteed.
Nanxun is best explored at a relaxed pace; there is no need to rush to complete a fixed loop. If there is a queue, rain or tiredness in the group, keep the southern visits you have completed and return from the nearest public exit.