Former Residence of Xue Muqiao

Former Residence of Xue Muqiao

The former residence of Xue Muqiao is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

The former residence of Xue Muqiao is located on West Street in Lisha Ancient Street, Huishan District, Wuxi, just a hundred steps away from the former residence of Sun Yefang. The building covers an area of 405 square meters and is named “Shenxiu Hall.” Recently renovated, it features white walls, black tiles, and a dark-painted wooden gate. Beside the gate stands a stone tablet with text identical to that in front of Sun Yefang’s former residence. Next to it is another small stone tablet, engraved with the following text: The former residence of Xue Muqiao was built in 1884 under the direction of Xue Muqiao’s grandmother. The original main structure consisted of a three-room, four-courtyard brick-and-wood building, with the third courtyard being a two-story building.

Xue Muqiao was born on October 25, 1904, and passed away on July 22, 2005, living through more than a century. The residence displays the dramatic life of Xue Muqiao through photographs, with each image chronicling his immortal contributions to the Party’s cause. The exhibited photographic materials provide detailed accounts of Xue Muqiao’s lifelong dedication to writing, showcasing his extensive body of work, including a long list of economic theory publications. Among them, the most renowned is the 1979 publication “Research on the Problems of China’s Socialist Economy,” which sold ten million copies and became an enlightening textbook for China’s economic reform.

In the garden of Sun Yefang’s former residence stands a pine tree, while in Xue Muqiao’s garden there is a wintersweet. This century-old wintersweet is lush and leafy, standing over five meters tall. The evergreen pine stays youthful, and the wintersweet blooms red. Both the former residences of Sun Yefang and Xue Muqiao feature large photos of the two famous economists born in Lishi standing together—like the pine and plum blossoms, they endured hardships yet stood tall. “Leaving behind a lingering fragrance in the world,” their stories reflect the noble character and broad-minded dedication to the nation and people of the Communists.

On June 5, 2006, the former residence of Xue Muqiao was designated as part of the sixth batch of cultural relic protection units of Jiangsu Province.

Xue Muqiao (1904–2005), originally named Yu Lin, was from Wuxi, Jiangsu. He joined the Communist Party of China in 1927. From 1938 to 1942, he worked in the New Fourth Army, serving as deputy head of the Training Department at the New Fourth Army Training Corps, where he wrote the popular textbook “Political Economy,” which became teaching material for training New Fourth Army cadres.

In December 1940, he went to Yancheng in northern Jiangsu, later serving as head of the Training Department at the Fifth Branch of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University, where he also taught political economy. When the Central China Branch of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University was established in 1942, he served as head of the Training Department and acting head of the Political Department. In early 1943, he went to Shandong to join the… More details about Xue Muqiao++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangsu Province