Former Residence of Chen Qubing

Former Residence of Chen Qubing

The former residence of Chen Qubing is a protected cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province.

Former Residence of Chen Qubing

On the banks of Sanyuan River in Tongli Town, there is a flagstone-paved street called Sanyuan Street. Not far to the west lies the former residence of Chen Qubing. The entrance faces the street and the river, with high surrounding walls and a tranquil environment. This is a simple and unadorned Qing Dynasty residence, covering an area of 1,364.4 square meters. Above the lintel was originally a plaque inscribed with "Xiaoyou Jiuye." Upon entering, you’ll find the remnants of a half pavilion and the family ancestral hall, as well as structures such as Baichiju (Hundred-Foot Tower) and Haogebutang (Song of Heroism Hall), all weathered by time and nearly dilapidated. To the east inside the entrance is a round moon gate, with the lintel inscribed with "Lüyu Qingyao Guan" (Jade and Jadeite Pavilion), now slightly covered in moss. According to records, Lüyu Qingyao Guan was first built in 1932, over sixty years ago.

The residence originally covered an area of two mu and two fen (approximately 1,500 square meters), with 42 rooms in total. The main entrance faced west, and the houses stood along the river. Originally, there was a lintel inscribed with “Xiaoyou Jiuye.” Inside the entrance, there used to be a half pavilion, which no longer exists. The main buildings in the residence included Haogebutang, Baichiju, Lüyu Qingyao Guan, the study, and the family temple.

The Haogebutang (Hall of Heroic Songs) in the residence has three bays in width. In 1920, when the building was completed, Chen Qubing happened to be reading Xiangshan’s (Bai Juyi) “Song of Heroism” (“Haoge Xing”) and was deeply moved. He joyfully named the new house “Haogebutang.” It served as the place where Chen Qubing received guests. The hall originally hung horizontal plaques inscribed with “Nv Zong Gong Yang” (Admired by All Women) and “Haogebutang.” The “Nv Zong Gong Yang” plaque was personally inscribed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen to praise Madam Ni, Chen Qubing’s mother, for her “devoted nurturing and teachings that led to his success.”

Baichiju (Hundred-Foot Tower) was where Chen Qubing stored books and did his writing. It is a simple one-story building over a raised basement. The book series he compiled, Baichiju Congshu (Hundred-Foot Tower Series), was named after this building. Lüyu Qingyao Guan, also known as the Hall Building, faces east and sits west. It consists of five floors over five basement levels plus two wing rooms, totaling 13 rooms. As you enter the Hall Building, the first thing that catches your eye is the five large characters “Lüyu Qingyao Guan,” handwritten by the modern calligrapher Yang Qianli, inlaid in the lintel. On the north side of the Hall Building and the north wing room were Chen Qubing’s bedroom and another writing space.

Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Site — Fourth Batch, April 1995: Former Residence of Chen Qubing, Built 1872, Tongli Town, Wujiang, Jiangsu

Address: No. 15 Sanyuan Street, Tongli Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City

Type: Historic Residence / Historical Architecture

Recommended Visiting Time: About 30 minutes

Tel: 0512-63333120

Opening Hours:

April–October: 7:30–17:30; November–March of next year: 7:30–17:15

Ticket Information:

Free entry. Included in the Tongli Ancient Town ticket.

Chen Qubing (1874–1933), a modern Chinese poet and one of the founders of the Nanshe Literary Society. A native of Tongli, Wujiang, Jiangsu. After reading the phrase “If the Xiongnu are not vanquished, how can I enjoy my home?” he resolutely changed his name to “Qubing” (meaning “to eliminate sickness [i.e., enemies]”). In his early years, he joined the Tongmenghui (Revolutionary Alliance), followed Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and spared no effort in promoting the revolution. He made significant contributions during both the Xinhai Revolution, which overthrew the Qing imperial system, and the Constitutional Protection Movement against Yuan Shikai. His poetry often expressed patriotic fervor in a vigorous and solemn style. In 1923, he served as a professor in the Chinese Department at National Southeast University (renamed Central University in 1928 and Nanjing University in 1949)... More about Chen Qubing ++

Tongli Town: One of China’s Six Ancient Towns of the South, Tongli was formerly known as “Futu” (Rich Land), renamed “Tongli” (Copper Village) in the early Tang Dynasty, and then had its name restructured as “Tongli” (Same Village) during the Song Dynasty. Established in the Song Dynasty, by 2015 it had a history of over 1,000 years and is a classic water town in China.

Located in Wujiang District, Suzhou City, Tongli is 18 km from downtown Suzhou and 80 km from Shanghai. Covering an area of 33 hectares, the town is embraced by five lakes, connected by 49 bridges, and divided into seven islands by a network of rivers. In the ancient town, every household faces the water and owns a boat; bridges from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties remain well preserved. In 1982... More about Tongli Town ++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites