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Zhang Xue-liang or Chang Hsueh-liang, (English name Peter
H.L. Chang) is known as the Young Marshal was an important figure
in modern Chinese history. Zhang Xueliang who is the son of Zhangzuolin,a
head of Fengxi(a area of Liaoning Province) warlord, became effective
ruler of Manchuria after the assassination of his father by the
Japanese. The Japanese were concerned that it would declare support
for Chiang Kaishek,the leader of Kuomintang Government, and believed
that Zhang Xueliang who was an opium adit would be much more subject
to Japanese influence. Unexpectedly, the younger Zhang proved to
be more independent than anyone had expected.
He overcame his opium addiction and declared to support
Government to object Japanese invasion. However, Chiang Kaishek
insisted such policy at that tome: to resolve the trouble abroad
should be after to stabilize home. In order to force Chiang kai-shek
to against Japanese at once and end the Chinese Civil War, General
Zhang and another General Yanghucheng kidnapped Chiang kai-shek
in Xian on December 12,1936 and imprisoned him agreed to form a
united front with the communists against the Japanese invasion.
It is famous as "Xian Incident". Chiang apparent to
agree to focus his efforts against the Japanese rather than the
Communists and in return, he made Zhang became a prisoner of his
and cease him any political role. Zhang spent half a century in
house arrest for his role in the Xian incident, and followed Chiang
to Taiwan where he remained non-political and spent his time studing
Ming dynasty poetry. He died in Hawaii on October 15,2001, at the
age of 101.
Zhangxueliang's residence located at the No 48 of Chaoyang Street,
Shenyang City was built in 1914. It covers an area of 30 thounsand
sq km and the building area in total is 2.7 sq km. It is devided
into three building groups in deferent style, east compound, min-compound
and west compound, and it is one of the most outstanding building
groups of recent Chinese history. In the residence, people will
see the military outstanding achievement of Zhangxueliang, Chinese
recent history, as well as the orchid show, because Zhangxuelian
loved orchid very much when he was alive.
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