Yixing Shushan Ancient South Street

Zhou Peiyuan’s Former Residence

Zhou Peiyuan’s Former Residence is a Wuxi Municipal Cultural Heritage Site.

The former residence of Zhou Peiyuan is located in Hocun Village, Fangqiao Town, Yixing City. The residence faces south and was built between the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. It currently consists of three courtyards and covers an area of over 750 square meters. In 1987, Zhou Peiyuan donated the residence to the Yixing Municipal Government. In November 1996, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage site by the Yixing Municipal People's Government.

The first courtyard is four bays wide (14 meters) and six rafters deep (8 meters), with roll-up awnings at the front and rear. The second courtyard is a two-story building with four bays, 14.3 meters wide and seven rafters deep (7.5 meters), featuring a corridor on the southern side. The ground floor originally served as the main hall of the residence, while the upper floor housed the bedrooms of Zhou Peiyuan and his family. Between the second and third courtyards is a small patio with a well in the center; the east and west sides have two-story wing rooms, with the western one serving as a staircase that connects to the second floors of both the second and third courtyards. The third courtyard is a revolving-style building, with a four-bay two-story

Upon entering the main gate is the entrance courtyard. The east side houses the kitchen, and the west side the storage room. Hanging on the screen in the courtyard is a full-color bust portrait of Mr. Zhou Peiyuan, over one meter and fifty centimeters tall, with silver hair. On both sides of the wall are six enlarged black-and-white photos of Mr. Zhou at various stages of his life. This immediately creates a sense of solemnity and warmth upon entering. Passing through the screen leads to a small inner courtyard paved with bluestone and shaded by green bamboo. The second section of the house is a two-story building. The first floor features three spacious hall rooms arranged in the style of a traditional Jiangnan farming and scholarly family. At the front of the hall is a long narrow table, an eight-immortal table, two armchairs, and six sets of backrest chairs and tea tables arranged face-to-face on both sides. On the wall facing the entrance hangs a painting of an ancient pine tree and a pair of couplets, which read: “Devoted to the cause of science, nurturing future generations.” The walls on both sides display calligraphy and paintings by notable figures.

The third section of the house has wing rooms on both sides, serving as an exhibition room for the life and achievements of Mr. Zhou Peiyuan. The corridors of the wing rooms display commemorative scrolls written by leaders of democratic parties such as Fei Xiaotong, Wu Jieping, Zhu Guangya, and Zhou Guangzhao. The exhibition on Mr. Zhou Peiyuan’s life and deeds is rich in content, covering his childhood, studies at Tsinghua University, overseas education, teaching career after returning to China, scientific and educational work, leadership positions, diplomatic activities, family life, and more, providing a comprehensive overview.

Scenic area address: No. 154, Houcun, Fangqiao Town, Yixing City, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province

Transportation: Take a bus bound for Fangqiao Town within Yixing City, get off at Fangqiao Bus Station, then walk north along Fangfu Road to reach Houcun.

Zhou Peiyuan (August 28, 1902 – November 24, 1993), born in Yixing, Jiangsu. Theoretical physicist and fluid mechanician. Elected as an academician (member) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1955.

Joined the Jiusan Society in 1952. Served as a member of the Third Central Committee, a standing committee member of the Fourth Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Central Committees, Chairman of the Eighth Central Committee, and Honorary Chairman of the Ninth Central Committee of the Jiusan Society.

Zhou Peiyuan was born into a scholarly family in Yixing County, Jiangsu Province. His father was... More details about Zhou Peiyuan++

Fangqiao Subdistrict: Fangqiao Subdistrict was liberated on March 28, 1949 (lunar calendar). It was officially established as the People's Government of Fangqiao Township by the Yixing County Military Control Commission. In October of the same year, the baojia system was abolished and replaced with the village group system, with Party branches set up at the township level. From June 1949 to 1955, the area underwent divisions into smaller townships, land reform, mutual aid groups, and the primary cooperative movement. In February 1956, the first township merger took place, and it was renamed the People's Committee of Fangqiao Township. In September 1958, the people's commune system was implemented, abolishing the township and village systems and establishing the commune and brigade systems. The township became part of Hubin Commune, and the former Fangqiao Brigade... More details about Fangqiao Subdistrict++

Further reading:

· Seventh Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units