Lu’s Salt Merchant Residence, also known as Lu Shaoxu’s Salt Merchant Residence, was originally built during the 20th year of the Guangxu Emperor’s reign. It stands out among the salt merchant residences in Yangzhou for its scale, featuring exquisite brick, stone, and wood carvings, grand halls and buildings adorned with red lanterns, and long fire alleys. Unique to this residence is the Lu’s Ancient Residence Restaurant, which offers a distinctive dining experience within the ancient structure.
Constructed by Lu Shaoxu at a cost of nearly 80,000 taels of silver, it is acclaimed as the ‘First Salt Merchant Building’. Originally, it was a long, rectangular structure spanning nine sections from front to back, but some parts were destroyed by fire. The remaining structures, such as the gatehouse, residential buildings, Yi Garden, and the book collection building, are well-preserved. Particularly, the book collection building is exceptionally well-preserved. To the west of the book collection building, there is a rare century-old wisteria in Yangzhou. The main entrance, facing south towards the street, is grand and exquisite. The brick carvings on the lintel are exceptionally fine. Dining at Lu’s Ancient Residence Restaurant exempts visitors from purchasing an admission ticket to the ancient residence, but entry must be during meal times. After dining, visitors can continue to explore Lu’s Salt Merchant Residence. The restaurant thrives due to its antique ambiance, especially for morning tea, which begins queuing at 6:00 AM, so it’s best to arrive early. The restaurant specializes in Yangzhou specialties, such as Braised Dried Bean Curd, Crab Roe Soup Dumplings, Five-Ingredient Buns, and Jade Green Buns, all of which are well-regarded for their taste. Opening Hours: The residence is closed all day on Mondays and open from 09:00 to 19:00 from Tuesdays to Sundays. Concessions: Children under 1.2 meters (inclusive) enter for free; seniors aged 70 (inclusive) and above with ID enter for free; those aged 60 (inclusive) to 69 (inclusive) with ID enjoy half-price admission; active military officers with military ID enter for free; retired cadres with the ‘People’s Republic of China Retired Cadre Honor Certificate’ enter for free; journalists with a ‘Journalist’s Certificate’ issued by the State Press and Publication Administration enter for free. Additional Notes: The information above is for reference only; please check with the scenic area for the most up-to-date information. Must-See Tips: 1. Lu’s Salt Merchant Residence is adjacent to the Salt Ancestral Temple and only 500 meters away from He Yuan, making it convenient to visit both sites. 2. The ticket for Lu’s Salt Merchant Residence is included with He Yuan, so you can call He Yuan for relevant travel information. 3. Be prepared for mosquitoes in the summer; bring mosquito repellent.
