Former Site of Tu Kunshan Mansion

In the early twentieth century, Chezhan Road in Wuhan was a theater of global commerce. Here, in 1917, Tu Kunshan, a comprador for the British-owned Asiatic Petroleum Company, built his private estate. His mansion, a two-story brick-and-timber structure with a basement level, reflects this collision of worlds.

The architecture is Colonial Veranda style with Neoclassical elements. A symmetrical facade rises to a red-tile roof, crowned by a raised central pediment. Visitors pass through Doric-style arched portals into a world of quiet luxury. On the first floor, fireplaces, carved wooden paneling, and built-in cabinetry warm the reception parlor and study. Upstairs, Roman-style engaged columns line a central hall, where heavy wooden partition doors separate the wide corridors. Outside, wide verandas feature decorative stone balustrades, offering views of what was once a shared garden with Tu's brother's neighboring villa.

Human hands and political shifts have constantly reshaped this space. In 1948, Tu migrated with his family to the United States. After 1949, the Chinese military assumed control of the property. This military status shielded the villa from demolition. In the 1990s, Tu's descendants returned to manage the property's transfer, which paved the way for a major restoration launched in 2011.

Today, the mansion bridges its commercial past and modern leisure. In 2021, the French fashion house Louis Vuitton filled these historic rooms with a high-end jewelry exhibition, the mansion now welcomes visitors to experience its layered history.