Former Residence of Qian Zhongshu

Former Residence of Qian Zhongshu

The former residence of Qian Zhongshu is a protected cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province and a patriotic education base.

The former residence of Qian Zhongshu is located at Nos. 30 and 32 Xinjie Alley, Wuxi City. It was originally built in 1923 by Qian Fushan, Qian Zhongshu’s grandfather, and expanded in 1926 by his uncle Qian Sunqing. The complex covers an area of 1,600 square meters. The first phase of restoration primarily focused on No. 30 Xinjie Alley, which has a construction area of 504 square meters. The main structure consists of two rows of single-story houses, each with seven bays in width; there is a central courtyard, with one side room on each side of the courtyard; to the east is a service alley, at the end of which are several rooms including a kitchen, dining room, and woodshed, and behind these is a garden. The expanded buildings are located in the northwest corner of the garden, consisting of four two-story rooms and several auxiliary single-story structures. One of the eastern two-story rooms is called “Huanxu Shulou” (Continuation Study Hall), and behind it is a separate single-story room forming a small courtyard known as “Meihua Shuwu” (Plum Blossom Study), its brick-carved door plaque still intact. The expanded section later had a separate entrance, which is now No. 32 Xinjie Alley.

The entire No. 30 Xinjie Alley belongs to the traditional style of southern Yangtze River courtyard residences, but unlike typical residences, the floor plans of the front and rear rows are not rectangular but rather quadrilateral, with two diagonals measuring 84 and 96 degrees respectively. In addition, the beams, including the rafters, are oriented at unique angles, creating a distinctive spatial structure. The longitudinal axis of the front and rear sections is tilted 5 degrees, and all horizontal structures follow this orientation, while the vertical elements such as the floor tiles and gable walls are tilted 9 degrees to the east, resulting in an approximate 6-degree angle difference. This creates a mysterious and thought-provoking atmosphere, making this particular design quite rare.

In 2001, the Wuxi Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government decided to restore the former residence of Qian Zhongshu and establish the Qian Zhongshu Memorial Hall. Under the active planning of the cultural authorities, the restoration work began in May 2002. Following the principle of restoring the site to its original appearance, methods such as retaining the old, renewing the aged, and filling in missing parts were adopted to preserve the original features to the greatest extent. The project achieved harmony between old and new styles and reflected the integration of historical and modern elements, recreating the living environment and appearance of the residence in its heyday.

The Qian Zhongshu Memorial Hall was inscribed by the renowned scholar, overseas Chinese, and teacher of Comrade [name omitted], Mr. Gu Yuxiu. The half-length bronze statue of Qian Zhongshu was designed and created by the famous sculptor Mr. Qian Shaowu. With its detailed information, well-organized layout, rich literary atmosphere, and profound content, the former residence officially opened to the public on October 1, 2002.

The design and exhibition of the Qian Zhongshu Memorial Hall resemble a book—a true reflection of Mr. Qian Zhongshu’s life journey, an easy yet profound read, a thought-provoking narrative, and an inspiring story. The exhibition is divided into two major sections: the first restores Qian Zhongshu’s bedroom and the original appearance of Shengwu Hall according to Qian Sunqing’s “Shengwu Tang Ji,” displaying furniture from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, with plaques and couplets restored to their original form and content. The second section uses modern and innovative display techniques to comprehensively introduce Qian Zhongshu’s extraordinary life, divided into five parts: “Quick-witted and Eager to Learn, a Dragon Among Men,” reflecting Qian Zhongshu’s academic journey; “Diligent and Accomplished, a Master of Literature,” highlighting his achievements as a scholar, professor, poet, and writer; “A Scholar of Heaven and Earth, the Cultural Kunlun,” showcasing his contributions to Chinese culture and his scholarly masterpieces; “Renowned Worldwide, Inspiring Future Generations,” reflecting his influence as one of the most outstanding intellectuals and scholars of the 20th century; and “Qian Shengwu Hall, a Cradle of Talent,” featuring the remarkable achievements of other distinguished members of the Qian family.

The former residence of Qian Zhongshu is now a protected cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province and a patriotic education base in Wuxi City.

Address: No. 30 Xinjie Alley, Liangxi District, Wuxi City

Type: Celebrity Former Residence

Recommended Visiting Time: 0.5–1 hour

Phone: 0510-82712336

Opening Hours:

9:00-16:30

Ticket Information:

Free admission.

Qian Zhongshu (1910–1998), from Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, was originally named Yangxian, with the courtesy name Zhejiang, later changed his name to Zhongshu, with the courtesy name Mocun and the pseudonym Huaiju. He also used the pen name Zhongshu Jun. He was a modern Chinese writer and literary researcher.

In 1929, he was admitted to the Department of Foreign Languages at Tsinghua University. In 1932, he met Yang Jiang in front of the Guyue Hall at Tsinghua University. In 1937, he earned a bachelor's degree from Exeter College, Oxford University, with the thesis “China in the English Literature of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries.” In 1941, he completed the writings of “Limited Views” and “Written on the Edge of Life.” In 1947, ... More details about Qian Zhongshu ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Jiangsu Province