Plan at a glance
Location and visit scope
The Former Residence of Zhang Shiming is on Nanxi Street in the southern district of Nanxun Ancient Town, near Liu's Former Home. It is an independent modern-era residence centred on Chinese courtyards, a brick gate building, Western-style rooms, stained glass and interior decoration. A complete visit usually takes about 1–1.5 hours.
The residence has its own entrance, ticket and indoor opening arrangements. It can be visited with a separate ticket and may also be included in Nanxun's core historic-site combination ticket. Even though it is next to Liu's Former Home, follow the two residences' rules separately; one site's opening time does not define the other's.
Tickets and opening hours
For planning, allow roughly 8:00–16:30 during the day. Ticket checks may end before closing, and holiday visits may use staggered entry. The sites included, price and validity of a combination ticket can change, so confirm that the residence is included and that admission is still available that day.
If you want time for the stained glass, halls and rear garden, visit during the day and do not schedule several paid residences in the final hour. Nanxi Street outside can be used as a waiting or rest area, but it does not replace the indoor visit.
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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Chinese residence and Western-style rooms
The Former Residence of Zhang Shiming suits visitors interested in modern-era homes, architectural decoration and spaces combining Chinese and Western elements. Front and rear courtyards, halls, gate buildings and Western-style rooms create different layers. Look at the materials, window details, stairways and changes between courtyards as you move through.
The Western section's stained glass, floor decoration and hall details need close indoor viewing. The rooms you can enter follow the route open that day. Do not calculate the visit from a photograph of the exterior, and do not touch the building or furnishings for a photograph.
Who this suits
This stop suits visitors interested in architecture, local history and modern-era daily life, as well as those who have already visited Xiaolianzhuang and want another historic residence. With children or older adults, focus on the main halls and Western-style rooms, and leave time for indoor steps and thresholds.
If your companions prefer open waterfront scenery, Nanxun's public streets and Baijianlou will feel easier. Zhang Shiming's residence works best as a short, focused indoor visit; there is no need to rush through every display room.
Build your day
About 40 minutes: main-building route
Enter through the main gate, start with the carved-brick gate building and Chinese halls, then follow the open route to the Banana Hall, Western-style rooms and stained-glass areas before leaving through the rear garden or inscription corridor. The route focuses on layers of architecture and decorative details, so include entrance-queue time in your plan.
This short route suits visitors using the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming as one southern-district stop. After leaving, walk to Liu's Former Home or return to the public streets for a break; nearby attractions still have separate ticket checks.
About 1–1.5 hours: complete residence visit
On a first visit, move slowly from the gate building to the main hall, courtyards, Western-style rooms, stained glass and rear garden. If a room is temporarily closed, continue through the open areas and decide whether to return only after checking the route near the exit.
Zhang Shiming's residence and Liu's Former Home are close enough to schedule together, but their ticketing, capacity and displays may differ. If one has a queue, walk through the public streets or complete the other residence's exterior route first, then adjust according to the day's admission rules.
Half-day southern-district route
Enter from the South Gate, visit Xiaolianzhuang and Jiaye Library first, then continue to the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming and Liu's Former Home before returning to the river or moving north. The southern sites are close, but each indoor visit and queue takes time, so keep the itinerary to the places you genuinely want to see.
If you also want Baijianlou or a water activity that day, complete the residences with ticket-checking limits first and keep the public streets and boat ride flexible. Even if the day's activities change, the southern walking route can still stand on its own.
Get there
Entering from 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 residence area is about a five-minute walk. Taxi drop-offs from Nanxun Station may correspond to different town gates, so decide before setting out whether you will start at the South Gate or East Gate.
For driving, use an official parking area near the South Gate and enter on foot. Nanxi Street is mainly pedestrian, and vehicles should not be driven to the residence entrance to look for an informal space.
Moving through the southern district
Xiaolianzhuang, Jiaye Library, the Former Residence of Zhang Shiming and Liu's Former Home can be linked along public streets. Stone paths, bridges and residence thresholds slow the transfer; with large luggage, reduce the number of consecutive attractions.
If you continue to the north, walk or use a water bus or rowing boat when the day's dock and departure fit. Water activities have separate tickets and routes. If you want to take a boat after the residence, buy it separately and confirm the relevant water section.
Know before you go
Indoor space and photography
The rooms and passageways are relatively compact, and entry may be staggered during holidays. Stained glass, gate buildings, stairs and halls can attract photographers, so leave room for other visitors to pass.
Photography, flash and some display areas may have different restrictions. Follow the signs inside, and do not touch glass, doors, windows, furniture or barriers, or enter closed rooms.
Ticket boundaries
The Former Residence of Zhang Shiming, Liu's Former Home, Xiaolianzhuang and Jiaye Library can each have separate tickets and may also be sold as a combination. The name of a combination ticket alone does not explain which attractions or how many entries it covers; confirm the scope and that day's ticket-checking time before buying.
Public streets, bridges, boats, parking and food are arranged separately. If you want to go to Baijianlou or take a boat after the residence, confirm the route, dock and return time again.
Walking and weather
Nanxun's stone paths and bridges are more slippery after rain, so wear shoes with good grip and slow down at thresholds. Indoor and outdoor light levels differ, so let your eyes adjust. With children, do not let them run near stair entrances.
Afternoon light may make brick walls and courtyard details easier to see, but the result depends on weather, crowds and the open areas. Treat the architectural visit itself as the priority so the itinerary still works when the photographic conditions change.