Chongqing - Nestled beneath the lush greenery of Nanshan Mountain's Wufeng Pagoda in the Nan'an District of Chongqing, a traditional Chinese building with black-tiled roofs and graceful eaves stands as a unique testament to history. This place is the former site of the German Embassy in Chongqing, now a designated municipal cultural heritage site.
After over a year of restoration work, this building, which has witnessed Chongqing's rich history, was rejuvenated on November 1st.
On November 1st, in Nan'an District, a municipal-level cultural heritage site - the former site of the German Embassy, is located in an excellent geographical location, offering a distant view of the mountain city scenery. (Photo/Qi Lansen)
According to Hu Juan, head of the Nan'an District Cultural Heritage Office, to restore this old building to its original splendor, experts in cultural heritage restoration traced back to the former owner of the house, Dolores Werner, who now resides in Switzerland.
Dolores Werner is the daughter of Ludwig Werner, the last resident representative of the German trading organ Handelsgesellschaft für Industrielle Produkte, or Harpo, in China. Her family spent six years in this historic building.
The former German Embassy site covers 317 square meters, with an 811-square-meter building area. It features a one-story layout with an attic, a double-eave-hipped roof combined with a gable roof, three-slope water tiger windows, and traditional gray clay sculpture roof ridges.
The former site of the German Embassy. (Photo/Qi Lansen)
The restoration process, which began in December 2021, focused on preserving the existing structural elements and style of the former German Embassy site, utilizing a comprehensive structural analysis report and actual site surveys. The primary objectives were to address safety concerns, repair damages, and restore the building's original functionality and appearance.
The restoration was also inspired by the memories of Dolores Werner, who had preserved cherished relics from her time in Chongqing, such as two antique palm-leaf fans, each over 80 years old. These fans have accompanied her from Chongqing to Germany and, eventually, to Switzerland, never leaving her side. Dolores considers these fans as symbols of her profound connection to Chongqing.
Interior restoration work is underway at the former site of the German Embassy. (Photo/Qi Lansen)
Inside Dolores's home, there are numerous old photos taken during her time in Chongqing, reminiscing about her childhood years.
Dolores documented her fond memories of the old house in her book, "Dolores in China," which provides a detailed account of her childhood experiences within its walls.
Hu Juan emphasized that to help visitors and citizens better appreciate the building's historical significance, heritage restoration experts decided to restore the internal structure of the old house according to Dolores's descriptions.
The former site of the German Embassy is currently undergoing restoration. (Photo/Qi Lansen)
The historic building is scheduled to open to the public next year, offering visitors and residents the opportunity to not only explore its history but also experience the building's former charm firsthand.