Former Residence of Li Xiangjun (Mei Xianglou)

Former Residence of Li Xiangjun (Mei Xianglou)

The former residence of Li Xiangjun, one of the "Eight Beauties of Qinhuai," is called Mei Xianglou and is located at the southern end of Laiyan Bridge on the banks of the Qinhuai River. The residence is a three-courtyard, two-section Ming-Qing dynasty riverside building constructed with brick and wood. Though the courtyard is not large, it houses many fine art pieces, including calligraphy and paintings, couplets and seals, rockeries and statues, small garden scenes, stone carvings and brick engravings, murals and hanging lanterns, all of which are highly valuable for viewing. Outside Mei Xianglou, the first thing that catches visitors' eyes is the Ziwu Bridge spanning the river between the residence and the Confucius Temple. This bridge was built along the Earth's meridian line, so during the full moon on the 15th day of the lunar month, the moon’s reflection in the river on either side of the bridge appears as two halves. This reflects the wisdom of the ancients and is a marvel of the present, greatly enhancing the beauty of the Qinhuai River.

In front of Mei Xianglou hangs an antique couplet: “A face as fair as flowers, a character as pure as jade; a heroic spirit paired with an ice-cold heart.” This is the most accurate portrayal of this courtesan who strayed into the mortal world yet remained pure and unsullied. Li Xiangjun was a shining pearl of the Qinhuai; generations of visitors have come to see the site of Mei Xianglou without interruption. The reason this lower-class woman from a renowned Qinhuai background is admired is not due to her beauty, but because of her strong sense of justice, patriotism, and noble character. She stood against the corrupt world, demonstrating a rare and commendable spirit. “Unstained by the mud, yet not vulgar despite the cleansing ripples,” she remained devoted to her homeland. Based on the literary masterpiece “The Peach Blossom Fan,” the People's Government of Qinhuai District restored Mei Xianglou.

The former residence of Li Xiangjun is now located at No. 38 Chao Ku Street, Confucius Temple, Nanjing, and is listed as a municipal cultural relics protection unit. Among the "Eight Beauties of Qinhuai" of that time, Li Xiangjun was not as famous as Liu Rushi or Chen Yuanyuan. But nowadays, strolling through the old alleys of Qinhuai, this embroidered tower is the only one that can still be found. Since its opening, many cultural figures have visited out of admiration, leaving behind numerous works of calligraphy. A Taiwanese visitor who returned to Nanjing to visit family said after seeing Mei Xianglou, “I never expected there to be such a unique and marvelous place on the mainland.” A former U.S. naval attaché at the Chinese Embassy visited and wrote, “A timeless legend, a unique scenic wonder of the south.” An elderly man from Nanjing Forestry University made a special trip and spontaneously composed a poem: “Willow Tips Green, Mei Xianglou, romance along the Qinhuai, boat lights and oar shadows reflecting the dressing table, where is the silk fan… a heart of fragrance buried in history…”. If Li Xiangjun knew of this in the afterlife, it would bring solace to her sorrowful and patriotic soul.

Although “The Peach Blossom Fan” is merely a play written by an enlightened official-literati of the feudal era, and although the former residence of Li Xiangjun is just a symbolic structure, what it represents is a denunciation and rebellion against that era—a symbol of integrity, dignity, and noble sentiment.

Address: No. 38 Chao Ku Street, Confucius Temple, Qinhuai District, Nanjing

Type: Historic Residence of a Celebrity

Recommended Visiting Time: About 1 hour

Tel: 025-52248894

Opening Hours:

9:00-21:00