The Residence of Zhao Yongxian is located at 10 Nanzhao Lane, Gucheng District, Changshu City. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level by the State Council of China in 2006.
Zhao Yongxian (1535-1596), was Yu earned a title of jinshi or third-degree scholar in the Imperial Examination in the Fifth Year of Longqing Period in Ming Dynasty (1571). He wrote the Collected Works of Songshizai, Records of Literatures of the Three Wu Region, Ming Dynasty Statues and Institutions, and Records of Revolutions etc.
The Residence faces south and there were three axes before. It was bordered on the east the river bank (now the book street) of Xijing River, and next to Lane of Jin and Li (not existed now) on the west, and houses on both east and west axes had been ruined. Houses that remained now are a group of rooms (three yards included) lying in the center axis and the “Gallery of Maiwang” for book collections in the east, which together covers an area of 1,400 square meters. Gallery of Maiwang was the famous library of Jiangnan in Ming Dynasty which enjoyed equal fame with Building of Jiangyun which was owned by Qian Qianyi and Jiguge which was owned by Mao Jin, and it still has high status in China today. The residence was owned by the housing administration department of the government after the foundation of the People’s Republic of China and all of the residents moved out in April 2004. It was renovated comprehensively from May to December in 2004. In October 2005, it was opened to the public as the Art Gallery for Guqin (7-stringed zither) of Changshu City.