Ruins of Hongdou Villa

Ruins of Hongdou Villa

The ruins of Hongdou Villa are a cultural tourism attraction.

Located in Furong Village, Baimao Town, east of Changshu. In the late Ming Dynasty, the renowned literary figure Qian Qianyi and the talented woman Liu Rushi formed an extraordinary union, their white-haired and youthful romance causing a sensation at the time. As Liu could not tolerate the hustle and bustle of city life, they moved to the home of Qian’s maternal uncle here. The village has a Hongdou (red bean) tree planted during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, standing 12 meters tall with a trunk diameter of 0.73 meters. In those days, whenever the Hongdou tree bloomed with flowers that were “white as pearls and richly fragrant,” Qian and Liu would always invite renowned poets to admire them. The gathering attracted exceptional literary talent, creating an unprecedented scene of refined culture and leaving behind a cherished tale in literary circles. This made “Hongdou Villa” widely celebrated.

The Hongdou tree is originally native to southern China and is relatively rare in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions. “Red berries grow in southern land. How many load in spring the trees? Gather them till full is your hand; They would revive fond memories.” The bright and sturdy red beans have long been a symbol of love and friendship in the works of poets. The naming of “Hongdou Villa” carries the beautiful meaning of the romantic bond between Qian and Liu.