Xilu, a garden-style villa, is nestled at No. 66, Beishan Road. The villa boasts a garden replete with ponds, rockeries, and a profusion of lush flowers and trees, spanning an area of approximately one mu. Situated near Beishan Road, the southeast gate of the garden villa leads to a welcoming patio.
At the heart of the patio stands a three-bay main hall, adorned with a traditional large-roof Chinese architectural style. Beyond the main hall, another patio awaits. Ascending the steps, one finds a two-story, three-bay exquisite western-style brick-wood small building. Adjoining the small building on the west side are four auxiliary rooms.
Xilu, with a construction area exceeding 300 square meters, features a two-entry courtyard layout. The buildings are arranged in layers, with the foundation gradually elevated. The front and back houses contrast in style and height—one being Chinese and the other Western, one low and the other high. Oriented towards the lake and backed by the mountain, with a southern exposure, Xilu is an ideal spot for rest and recuperation, befitting its name, which translates to a resting house.
Post-1950s, Xilu transitioned into a residential compound. The garden fell into disuse, the patio vanished, and the buildings succumbed to decay. Today, only the stone tablet inscribed with ‘Xilu Wall Boundary’ remains, quietly resting in the aisle, a silent testament to Xilu’s existence for passers-by. The site is open all year round and throughout the day.
