Former Residence of British Consul

Overview of Heritage Site

Level of Protection of Immovable Cultural Heritage [Major National-level Protected Historical and Cultural Sites] Batch No.8
Level of Protection of Historic Building [Major Protected Historic Buildings] B3-15
Category Significant Modern and Contemporary Site and Representative Architecture
Address 5 Zhangzhou Road
Conservation Area of Immovable Cultural Heritage To the wall of the heritage itself in the east, the south, and the north; to the conservation line of the Former Residence of Amoy Customs Deputy Commissioner in the west.

Introduction to Heritage Site

The residence of the British Consul was the first foreign consular residence on Kulangsu. It was built around 1867 by Mr. Rutherford Alcock (1807-1897), the second British Consul to Xiamen. It is located on an open space in Tianwei overlooking the sea, giving a good view of ships navigating Xiamen Harbour. The site was owned by the British merchants in 1880s.
The British Consul's Residence is a single-storey structure, made of brick, stone and wood, in typical colonial veranda style. It is L-shaped in plan, with a veranda running along the front. The bedrooms occupied the longer side, with the reception rooms on the shorter side; ancillary rooms, such as the kitchen and washrooms, were located at the back. It is built on a granite foundation, covered with a thin damp-proof layer. The veranda is fronted by a line of brick arches with simple architraves, and the building's corners are decorated with quoins, while the facades are rendered with white plaster. A building next to the main residence housed the offices and the consul's private study.
The residence of British Consul is testimony to Kulangsu's attraction foreigners working for foreign companies and institutions in Xiamen, as a place to reside in view of its outstanding living environment. It shows that Kulangsu was very significant as a location where exchanges between China and foreign countries came about.

Audio Guide

Heritage Site Photograph

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Location Map

Heritage Site Drawing

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Contact Us

Person (Unit) in Charge for the Safety of Cultural Heritages:

Xiamen Siming Urban Resources Operation and Management Co., Ltd.

Contact:

0592-2029110

Hotline for Supervision and Report:

Administrative Committee of Xiamen Gulangyu-Wanshishan Scenic Area
0592-2090395

Supervised by:

Administrative Committee of Xiamen Gulangyu-Wanshishan Scenic Area

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