Situ Leideng Former Residence

Although it is surrounded by residential buildings, the style of the past can still be seen from the white walls, vermilion doors and windows, high eaves and pillars on the porch. It is said that this building covering an area of 239.4 square meters was built in 1878 when Stuart's father Stuart came to Hangzhou to preach, and it is the ancient missionary residence in Hangzhou. Stuart moved here when he was two years old. Passing through the porch, entering the former residence, the spacious hall, the dark red floor, blows a sense of history. Walking into the first living room on the left hand side of the first floor, there is a nearly 1.5-meter-high gray fireplace on the opposite wall and the large oil painting hanging above it is particularly eye-catching. There is also a silver candlestick and a quaint table clock on the fireplace. Groups of red-brown sofas are placed against the walls on either side of the fireplace. The unburned candle heads and the ticking of the pendulum make people vaguely touch the scene of the young Stuart playing here. In order to restore the original appearance of Stuart Leiden's life at that time, the staff of the exhibition hall browsed almost all the pictures and documents about the former residence that can be found now. During the restoration, each piece of furniture was imitated according to the arrangement of a typical missionary family at that time. Whether it is the tables and chairs in the dining room, or the bed cabinets in the bedroom, every detail is made to be perfect. At present, only four rooms on the first floor of the former residence are open. Except for the study on the right side next to the main entrance, the two rooms near the back door are arranged as a dining room and a bedroom respectively. In the four open rooms, pictures and texts such as Stuart Leiden's early life in Hangzhou, the establishment of Yenching University in Beijing and some precious old photos during his time as an ambassador in China are displayed on the walls.