Amid progress in COVID-19 prevention and control, Suzhou City has resumed the maintenance and restoration of heritage buildings including former residences of famous historical figures Fang Jiamo and Qian Boxuan.

Fang was a western medicine expert in Suzhou in the late Qing Dynasty. Fang and Qian, who specialized in traditional Chinese medicine, lived at the same Xuanqiao Lane in Gusu District, at No. 47 and No. 25 respectively. The two compounds are now listed as cultural heritage under protection in Suzhou.

It’s now urgent to repair the timber elements and control termite at Fang’s residence, once leased to more than 10 families. The compound features traditional Chinese courtyard style in the front part and a combination of Chinese and Western styles in the rear part, making it highly valuable in architecture research.

Restoration efforts will retain the original character of the historic buildings, important in showing Suzhou’s cultural identity, and minimize interventions, such as physical changes to original materials and construction ways.