A collection of early twentieth-century land deeds and contracts from the Zhejiang region of China offer a valuable glimpse into China's real estate market from the 1880s to the 1930s.

The Liu family lived in Nanxun, a thriving town and center of commerce during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911). Liu Yong (1826-1899), the family patriarch and a prestigious Qing Dynasty merchant, built his fortune on cotton, silk, salt, and real estate. His legacy includes Nanxun's historic landmark, the Xiao Lian Zhuang (Little Lotus Garden Villa), built in 1885. The Liu family collection was most recently in the hands of Rosie Chang, the great- granddaughter of Liu Yong and Sheng Xuanhuai (1844-1916), the former minister of transportation.

2 oversize boxes (1.6 linear feet)

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Archives.

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested at least two business days in advance of intended use.