Yilu, located at No. 75 Beishan Road and colloquially known as ‘Pan’s Residence,’ is a historic villa built in the 1930s. It covers an area of over 2 mu and is a two-story, two-bay brick-wood structure with distinctive clear water brick walls and pitched flat tiles.
Architectural Features
The villa features a colonnade on the ground floor and a terrace on the upper level. Inside, there are eight spacious rooms with wooden floors and walls, totaling an area of nearly 300 square meters.
Gardens and Landscape
Outside the building, visitors can admire ancient and famous trees, rockery fish ponds, and a variety of flora, including one ancient camphor tree, four Korean pines, and a catalpa tree that is 210 years old. The property also boasts numerous pine trees, juniper cypresses, wintersweets, and osmanthus trees, earning it the nickname ‘forest residence.’
Natural Retention and Preservation
Behind the house, a cliff is preserved, and to maintain the mountain springs, a large pool is constructed. This feature adds to the villa’s charm and connection with nature.
Historical Owner and Legacy
The owner of Yilu is believed to be Pan Zhiquan, a wealthy Shanghai businessman known for his villa by the West Lake. Pan was a comprador for Jardine Matheson in Shanghai and owned extensive real estate, including Western-style villas in Shanghai, Moganshan, Hangzhou, and Tianmushan. At Yilu, the stone tablets inscribed with ‘Yilu’ and ‘Pan’s Boundary’ are still present today.
Modern Changes and Nationalization
Unfortunately, during the widening of Beishan Road, part of the garden was demolished, and some historical markers were lost. After the liberation, Yilu was nationalized, becoming part of the country’s cultural heritage.
Yilu stands as a testament to the opulence of a bygone era and the enduring legacy of Pan Zhiquan, offering visitors a chance to explore a piece of history amidst the natural beauty of the West Lake.
