Memorial Hall of Li Genyuan

Memorial Hall of Li Genyuan

The former residence and memorial hall of Li Genyuan are located at Xiaowangshan in Zangxi Village, Zangshu Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City. Li Genyuan (1879–1965), a native of Tengchong, Yunnan, was a renowned patriotic general in China, an elder statesman of the Republic of China, a pioneer of the Xinhai Revolution, and an outstanding patriotic democrat. He joined the Tongmenghui in 1905 and was appointed supervisor and director of the Yunnan Military Preparatory School in 1909, where he was the teacher of Marshal Zhu De. After the Xinhai Revolution, he held positions such as Minister of Military and Political Affairs and President of the Senate of the Yunnan Military Government, and participated in the Anti-Yuan Protect-the-Nation War and the Constitutional Protection Movement. In 1922, he served as the Aviation Commissioner and Minister of Agriculture and Commerce of the Beiyang Government, and also acted as Premier. In 1923, he retired to Suzhou. In 1928, Li Genyuan had his mother, Madam Que, buried on Xiaowangshan and built Queying Village Residence there.

After the September 18th Incident, he mobilized the citizens of Suzhou to raise military supplies, treat wounded soldiers, accommodate refugees, bury fallen soldiers, and rescue the “Seven Gentlemen,” among other anti-Japanese salvation activities. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Li Genyuan served successively as a member of the Southwest Military and Political Committee, a member of the Southwest Administrative Committee, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and deputy director of the Research Committee for Historical Materials. He passed away in Beijing on July 6, 1965, and was buried on Xiaowangshan in Wuxian County the same year.

In 1985, the government of Wuxian County restored Queying Village Residence and turned it into the Li Genyuan Memorial Room. At the same time, the joint tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Li Genyuan was renovated. In 2003, Wuzhong District rebuilt the Li Genyuan Memorial Hall at the original site, which opened to the public in July 2004.

The newly built Li Genyuan Memorial Hall is bright, spacious, simple, and solemn. The exhibition includes four sections: “Introduction to Mr. Li Genyuan,” “Soaring Achievements in Both Literature and Martial Arts,” “Li Genyuan and Xiaowangshan,” and “Looking Up to a Noble Soul — Remembering Mr. Yin.” It features 202 photographs, 48 documents, 21 artifacts, 11 stone inscriptions, 15 titles (25 volumes) of Li Genyuan’s earlier works, and 23 calligraphy and painting works by celebrities commemorating Mr. Li. In February 2005, the Li Genyuan Memorial Hall was designated as a District Patriotic Education Base by the Propaganda Department of Wuzhong District Committee.

Transportation Guide

Location: Xiaowangshan, Zangxi Village, Zangshu Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province (within Xiaolongzhong Scenic Area)

Public Transport: Take bus 667 within Suzhou City and get off at Qionglong Community Station.