Former Residence Where Zhou Enlai Studied as a Youth

Former Residence Where Zhou Enlai Studied as a Youth

The Former Residence Where Zhou Enlai Studied as a Youth is a provincial-level cultural heritage site and a patriotic education base.

Yangzhou’s Former Residence Where Zhou Enlai Studied as a Youth

In 1997, the Former Residence Where Zhou Enlai Studied as a Youth was designated as one of the first batch of municipal-level patriotic education bases in Yangzhou. On March 5, 1998, on the centennial of Premier Zhou’s birth, it was officially opened to the public. By the end of 2002, it was listed as a provincial-level cultural heritage site by the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government.

The Former Residence Where Zhou Enlai Studied as a Youth is located at No. 3 Shuixiangkou, Baoying County. It was originally the residential property of Chen Yuan, Zhou Enlai’s maternal grandfather. The entire structure features Ming and Qing architectural styles, covering an area of 700 square meters with a built-up area of 500 square meters, comprising 18 rooms in total. The main gate of the residence faces north. The north building is simple and dignified, with a horizontal plaque inscribed with “Former Residence Where Zhou Enlai Studied as a Youth,” personally written by a former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

Leading from the main gate is a pathway paved with blue bricks. At the end of the pathway is a screen wall, with two quadrangle courtyards on the left and right. The east courtyard served as the living quarters at the time, featuring seven brick-and-wood structured rooms. A corridor connects the upper and lower halls with the small courtyard to the south. In the center of the yard, there are a fragrant wintersweet and a pot of green lotus exuding a refreshing aroma, full of vitality, vividly reflecting the noble character and integrity of the former residents.

The central upper hall consists of three rooms facing south. In the middle room, along the north wall, there is a long narrow table whose ends slightly curl upwards. On it rests an antique clock and a pair of celadon hat stands. On the wall hang a landscape painting by the renowned Qing Dynasty artist Gong Xian and a calligraphic couplet by Wang Wenzhi that reads, “The tranquil air of humble bamboo and secluded orchids, the harmonious breeze and sunny days resonate with the heart of heaven.” Inside the hall, there is an eight-immortal table, four armchairs, and two tea tables. On the wooden lattice partition to the east hang four traditional Chinese paintings of plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum by Zheng Banqiao—one of the “Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou.” On the western partition hang calligraphic works by Shen Zhou, Wen Zhengming, Tang Yin, and Dong Qichang.

The west room on the upper hall was the bedroom where Zhou Enlai and his adoptive mother, Madam Chen, stayed during their visits to Baoying. It contains an intricately carved large bed, a cypress wardrobe, and a dressing table, with some books and stationery still preserved from those years.

The west courtyard was the living quarters of Chen Shizhou’s father, Chen Yuan, and other family members. It consists of 11 rooms of varying sizes and now serves as exhibition rooms and office space for the residence’s reception work. There are four rooms on the upper hall, three of which are used as exhibition halls. The western suite includes a wooden safe where Chen Shizhou once stored a large number of Zhou Enlai’s manuscripts, letters, photos, and other precious items. The exhibition area has three display rooms. The first exhibition room is titled “Zhou Enlai and Adoptive Mother Madam Chen.” Zhou Enlai spent his childhood with his adoptive mother, who provided meticulous care and devoted education that had a profound impact on his character development and cultural refinement.

The second exhibition room is “Zhou Enlai and Chen Shizhou.” It displays letters, photos, and correspondence from the 1960s when Zhou Enlai searched for Chen Shizhou, including some materials that are unique within China. The third exhibition room is “Zhou Enlai’s Affection for Baoying.” The room also exhibits photos and materials of Zhou Enlai recalling his youth in Baoying with local staff members from Baoying.

Zhou Enlai was a Marxist, proletarian revolutionary, statesman, military strategist, and diplomat. He was one of the principal leaders of the Communist Party of China and the People’s Republic of China, a founding member of the People’s Liberation Army, and Premier of the People’s Republic of China (1949–1976). Originally from Shaoxing, Zhejiang, he was born in Huai’an, Jiangsu. After graduating from Nankai School in Tianjin in 1917, he went to Japan to study. He returned to China in 1919, entered Nankai University in September, became a leader of the Tianjin student movement during the May Fourth Movement, and co-founded the progressive group Enlightenment Society with other activists... More detailed information about Zhou Enlai++

Xuendun Community: Located in the western part of Baoying County, bounded by Yeting Road to the north, Nanchenggen Road and Baoying Bridge to the south, Zhongda Street to the east, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal to the west. The community covers an area of approximately 0.4 square kilometers, with 5,150 registered households and a population of 11,307... More detailed information about Xuendun Community++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites