Former Site of Zhou Enlai’s Childhood Reading Place

Former Site of Zhou Enlai’s Childhood Reading Place

The Former Site of Zhou Enlai’s Childhood Reading Place is a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Former Site of Zhou Enlai’s Childhood Reading Place is located on Caoyun West Road, Qinghe District, Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province.

It consists of Zhou Enlai’s childhood former residence and the private school at the Chen Family Garden. Opened to the public on March 5, 1988, the site had its name inscribed by Li Peng in 1997. It is a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a patriotic education base.

This site was where Zhou Enlai lived and studied from ages 6 to 10 with his parents and adoptive mother in Qinghe. During the four years he resided here, the extensive collection of books at his maternal grandfather Wan Qingxuan’s house provided him with excellent opportunities to read widely from ancient and modern works. His birth mother, Lady Wan’s, way of managing the household and life, as well as his adoptive mother’s dedicated teaching, had a profound influence on Zhou Enlai’s intelligence, character, personality, and his development of capable decision-making skills—factors that later contributed to his pursuit of further studies and dedication to the revolutionary cause.

The site covers an area of 5,170 square meters, with a building area of 672 square meters. Originally consisting of 14 rooms built in the Ming and Qing architectural styles with blue bricks and small tiles, the layout includes: a front hall of three rooms used for receiving guests and dining; the main hall of three rooms where Zhou Enlai’s parents and younger brother lived; two eastern rooms where Zhou Enlai and his adoptive mother, Madam Chen, resided; two western rooms serving as the living quarters of his wet nurse, Lady Jiang; two eastern rooms functioning as Zhou Enlai’s study; and two kitchen rooms located south of the adoptive mother’s living space. Within the courtyard, a wintersweet tree planted by Zhou Enlai himself in his childhood still stands, making it the only living relic among all Zhou Enlai memorial sites nationwide.

In April 1995, the Former Site of Zhou Enlai’s Childhood Reading Place was designated as part of the fourth group of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Group of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units