Shitaishidi (former residence of Zhao Puchu) is located in Tiantali Street, Yingjiang District, Anqing City. Since Zhao Tianyun, Zhao Jiyuan and Zhao Zengzhong were four generations of Hanlin officials in the Zhao family, it was formerly known as "Shi Tai Shi Di" and "Fourth Generation Hanlin House". At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Li Hongzhang, Zhao Tianyun's son-in-law, governor of Zhili and minister of Beiyang, personally inscribed "Four Generations of Hanlin" with golden inscriptions. A plaque was hung on the main entrance of Shitaishidi (the former residence of Zhao Puchu). Unfortunately, the Japanese invaders looted it during the Anti-Japanese War. On November 5, the thirty-third year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1907), Zhao Puchu, the great-grandson of Zhao Tianyun, was born here.
The former residence covers an area of ??4463 square meters and a construction area of ??2773 square meters. The square is paved with granite, and the unique Zhao family well is placed in it. The building complex faces south, and the exterior wall is made of blue bricks with clear water walls, which is simple and elegant. The horse head wall is undulating and rhythmic. The main building is a brick and wood structure with a rectangular plan, 42 meters long from east to west and 84 meters wide from north to south. It is divided into four entrances from the east, three from the west, and seven from the east. Except for the three-bay west three, the rest are five-bay, about 20 meters wide, and are neatly arranged along two central axes running north-south. Each entrance is connected on both sides by wing rooms or corridors. The first and second entrances from the east, the third and fourth entrances from the east, and the patio between the first and second entrances from the west are used for lighting and receiving water from all sides. To the northwest of the ancient building complex is a 982-square-meter back garden. On the west side of the garden is a 32-meter-long stele corridor, inlaid with 11 panels of Mr. Zhao Puchu's calligraphy works.
The style of the Shitaishidi (former residence of Zhao Puchu) ancient buildings combines the grandeur and ruggedness of northern ancient buildings with the delicacy and refinement of Huizhou ancient buildings. It has strong local characteristics and historical, scientific and artistic values. It is also a group of Ming and Qing ancient buildings that are well preserved and have a large area in our province.
Zhao Puchu (1907-2000), during his lifetime, served as Vice Chairman of the 9th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Honorary Chairman of the Central Committee for the Advancement of Democracy, and President of the Buddhist Association of China. He is a well-known social activist, an outstanding patriotic religious leader, and a close friend of the Communist Party of China. He is also a famous writer, poet and calligraphy master known at home and abroad.
Shitaishidi (former residence of Zhao Puchu), as the birthplace and gathering place of Zhao family culture, is the research center, storage center and exhibition center of Zhao family cultural relics. It is an excellent place to commemorate and remember Mr. Zhao Puchu Patriotism education base. Since 2001, the Anqing Municipal People's Government has raised more than 10 million yuan from various sources to relocate the former residents and comprehensively restore it.
In May 1998, the Anhui Provincial People's Government announced it as a provincial key cultural relics protection unit. It is now declared as a national key cultural relics protection unit.
Zhao Wenkai (1760-1808), courtesy name Yishu and nickname Jieshan, was the great ancestor of Zhao Puchu and a native of Wangtian Township, Taihu County, Anqing. In the fifty-second year of Qianlong's reign (1787), he was awarded the first prize in the first year of Jiaqing's reign (1796). He was awarded the post of editor of Hanlin Academy, editor of Shilu Hall, and editor of Wenyuan Pavilion. In order to confer the coronation ceremony on Ryukyu King Shang Wenxing, in the fourth year of Jiaqing (1799), the imperial court selected Zhao Wenkai as the emperor's envoy, who traveled eastward with integrity and bestowed upon him a first-class linpython suit. During his mission to Ryukyu, Zhao Wenkai abided by strict regulations and declined generous gifts from the sending country. He was deeply praised by the Ryukyu government and the public as "the voice of integrity was heard overseas and the whole country saluted him." Therefore, Shang Wen commended Zhao Wenkai to Emperor Jiaqing for his integrity, and wrote a birthday poem for Zhao's mother, praising Zhao's mother for her good teaching of her son. (Mr. Zhao Puchu visited Ryukyu during his trip to Japan in 1987 and witnessed the cultural relics written by his ancestor Zhao Wenkai)
In the 13th year of Jiaqing (1808), Zhao Wenkai died at the age of 48 in Yanping Bingbei Road, Shanxi.
The tomb of Zhao Wenkai is located in Renxing Mountain, Tea Garden, Wangtian Township, Taihu County, Anqing. In the 23rd year of Daoguang's reign (1843), Zhao Wenkai's coffin was moved back to Taihu from Yanping, Shanxi, and buried with his wife and concubines. The tomb sits northeast and faces southwest. The top of the tomb is made of tung oil and lime and is in the shape of a semicircle. The tombstone is five feet high and three feet wide. In the center of the front of the tombstone is engraved in regular script "The imperial decree of the Qing Dynasty awarded Zhongxian the official Xiankao Zhao Gongjieshan's tomb." The left and right inscriptions of Zhao Wenkai's wife and concubine are clearly visible. Loaded into "Chinese Famous Places Dictionary".
Zhao Wenkai wrote many works, including "Chu You Cao", "Chu Shang Manuscript", "Shi Mu Jiu Shan Fang Poems", "Duxiu Caotang Ancient and Modern Essays", etc. It is a pity that many of them have been lost.
In May 1998, the Anhui Provincial People's Government announced it as a provincial key cultural relics protection unit.