Former Residence of Hu Qiaomu

Former Residence of Hu Qiaomu

The former residence of Hu Qiaomu is a cultural tourism attraction.

- The former residence is located in Zhangben Village, Anhu Town, Yandu County. Originally a brick-and-tile courtyard house with three sections in a row and dozens of rooms including east and west wing rooms, during the land reform, -’s father, Mr. Hu Qidong, voluntarily donated the land and property to be distributed among poor tenant farmers, keeping only three south-facing main rooms. In 1991, the local government renovated the former residence, which now covers an area of about 200 square meters.

- Born on June 1, 1912, in Zhangben Village, he attended elementary school in the village during his childhood. In 1924, after graduating from elementary school, he was admitted to Jiangsu Provincial No. 8 Middle School (now Yangzhou Middle School), and in 1930, he was enrolled in Tsinghua University in Beiping. He joined the revolution in 1931 and arrived in Yan’an in July 1937. Starting in February 1941, he served as Secretary to Mao Zedong and Secretary to the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee for 25 years until the outbreak of the Cultural Revolution in June 1966. He also served as Executive Vice Minister of the CPC Central Propaganda Department (1950–1954), Deputy Secretary-General of the CPC Central Committee (from 1954), Alternate Secretary of the CPC Central Committee (from September 1956), member of the 12th CPC Central Committee Politburo (September 1982 to October 1987), as well as President of Xinhua News Agency, President of People’s Daily, and Director of the Government Administration Council News Agency.

A large portrait of - at the age of seventy hangs in the center of the main room of the former residence, with dozens of large photos of his life and work in Beijing displayed on both sides, including more than ten group photos with proletarian revolutionaries of the older generation such as Mao Zedong, -, -, and -. The east room displays over a thousand books donated by - during his lifetime, while the west room exhibits the bed he slept on in his childhood, some of the desks and stools he used, as well as 28 calligraphic and poetic works gifted by Hu Gongshi, former leader of the National Calligraphers Association and head of the Standard Cursive Script Society. To the southeast of the former residence, there is also a tall stone memorial archway with the horizontal plaque reading "Gate of Chastity and Filial Piety," and couplets on both sides written by Li Yuanhong, former President of the Republic of China. The couplets read: “Spring shrine stones stand as eternal models; river travelers pause their oars to pay homage to the matriarch.” This was established with donations from local people to honor -’s grandmother, Madam Hu Jishi, who remained widowed in her youth, raised her children alone, and built a respectable life.

Location of the Attraction

Zhangben Village, Anhu Town, Yandu County, Jiangsu