The 'Red House' that does not match the temperament of the ancient town

Nanxun Ancient Town - Liu's Ladder Hall, with a Confucian cultural concept in the front hall, stepping into the back garden, however, reveals a different world. Looking back, it turns out to be a large mansion in the Western European Roman architectural style, with brick-red walls, colorful stained glass windows, and exquisite brick carvings. Picture 1, the brick carvings in the corner of the wall have many good meanings. 1⃣️ Liu Yong of Nanxun was the richest man in the area, the head of the 'Four Elephants of Nanxun'. In the late Ming Dynasty, Nanxun gave birth to the 'Four Elephants, Eight Bulls, and Seventy-two Golden Dogs'. 'Elephants' referred to those with wealth exceeding 10 million taels of silver, which is equivalent to 2.25 trillion RMB today. Currently, Liu's Ladder Hall, Xiaolian Manor, and Jiaye Library in Nanxun Ancient Town are all Liu family heritage. Liu's Ladder Hall was originally named Chongde Hall, but due to its commonality, it was later renamed to its current name. The word 'Ladder' comes from the name of the owner, Liu Tiqing. 2⃣️ The main hall and second hall of Chongde Hall have been destroyed, but other buildings still retain their original appearance. The entire building is composed of three parts: south, middle, and north. The middle part is a typical Confucian cultural architectural style, simple and elegant; while the south and north parts incorporate Roman styles, with arched European-style large windows and exquisite Roman columns, making the whole building stand out in the water town of Jiangnan. This combination of Chinese and Western architectural styles not only reflects the owner's respect for traditional culture but also demonstrates an open and inclusive mindset. Address: No. 51 Renrui Road, Nanxun Town, Nanxun District, Huzhou City, within the Nanxun Ancient Town Scenic Area Opening hours: 08:00-16:30