Visitors explore Haonan Villa in Nantong. [Photo by Huang Zhe to en.nantong.gov.cn]

A surge of visitors is descending on a century-old mansion in Nantong after the property played a prominent role in the popular television series Jianghai Chaosheng, or Zhang Jian — The Legendary Entrepreneur.

The drama, which tells the story of Zhang Jian (1853-1926), a scholar-turned-industrialist, has reignited public interest in his life and legacy and put his former residence, Haonan Villa, back in the spotlight.

The mansion, now part of the Nantong Museum complex and a nationally protected cultural heritage site, was Zhang's first private home in the city proper.

Completed in 1915, the residence was modeled after the Changguan Pavilion in Beijing. The structure features an English-style brick-and-timber frame with four exterior stories and three interior levels, blending Western columns, arches and Baroque-style roofing with a traditional Chinese courtyard garden.

Western-style fireplaces were installed throughout the interior spaces. The fusion design has since been recognized as a classic example of early modern Chinese architecture that absorbed Western influences, and it has been included in China's collection of outstanding architectural works.

More than a century later, the mansion remains in a remarkable state of preservation. Two wisteria vines planted by Zhang himself still flourish, their blossoms spilling over the eaves each spring as a signature sight along the Haohe River.