Beijing New Culture Movement Memorial Museum

Beijing New Culture Movement Memorial Museum

The Beijing New Culture Movement Memorial Museum is a classic red tourism destination and a patriotic education base.

The Beijing New Culture Movement Memorial Museum is a patriotic education base in Beijing. Located at No. 29 Wusi Street, Dongcheng District, it is a memorial museum built on the original site of the Red Building of Peking University. In July 2001, the preparatory office for the New Culture Movement Memorial Museum was established, and the museum officially opened in April 2002.

In September 1916, Peking University began constructing a four-story dormitory building with over 300 rooms at Hanhuayuan (now Shatan). Completed in 1918, the Red Building was repurposed as the university’s administrative offices, library, and classrooms for liberal arts departments, forming the College of Liberal Arts. At the time, the layout of the Red Building was as follows: the first floor was almost entirely the library; the second floor housed university administrative departments and large lecture halls; the third and fourth floors were classrooms; and the basement was the publishing department. This four-story, “I”-shaped brick-and-wood structure building, with its main body constructed of red bricks, came to be known as the “Red Building.”

In 1952, following the national restructuring of university departments, Peking University relocated to its campus in the western suburbs at Yan Garden. Subsequently, the Red Building became the office building of the National Cultural Relics Bureau. In March 1961, the Shatan Red Building was listed by the State Council as one of the first batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites. In July 2001, preparations for the New Culture Movement Memorial Museum began, and it officially opened to the public on April 28, 2002, writing a new chapter in the history of the Red Building.

Relying on the Red Building, the Beijing New Culture Movement Memorial Museum offers a comprehensive introduction to the content and history of the New Culture Movement through exhibits such as the New Culture Movement Exhibition, special displays like "Cai Yuanpei and the Peking University Red Building" and "Champion of the New Culture Movement – Chen Duxiu," restored historical sites including the office where Li Dazhao served as head of the Peking University Library, the reading room where Mao Zedong worked, and the large lecture hall where Peking University students attended classes. It also screens documentaries such as "The May Fourth Movement" and "Former Residences of New Culture Movement Figures."

As a witness to history, the Red Building naturally bears the weight of the Beijing New Culture Movement Memorial Museum.

During the Republican era, Peking University had three colleges, one of which was the renowned College of Liberal Arts located in the Red Building. Originally intended as a dormitory when constructed in the early Republican period, the Red Building was soon converted into classrooms for liberal arts departments. Eventually, it formed an indelible bond with many prominent figures associated with literature, such as Cai Yuanpei, Chen Duxiu, Mao Zedong, and Hu Shi.

As the birthplace of China’s New Culture Movement, the importance of the Red Building is immeasurable: democracy and science were born here, the relocation of New Youth magazine to Beijing took place here, slogans such as “Resist foreign aggression and punish internal traitors” and “Abolish the Twenty-One Demands” spread from here across China, Marxism combined with China’s labor movement, and the “spark” of China’s revolution was ignited here, eventually spreading like wildfire across the nation...

Drawing on the profound cultural heritage and unique location of the Red Building, the memorial museum hosts permanent special exhibitions year-round, including "Cai Yuanpei and the Peking University Red Building," "Champion of the New Culture Movement – Chen Duxiu," and "Exhibition on the New Culture Movement."

"Time flies," "things change but the scene stays the same," the ever-present "Red Building" conceals too many things that haunt this ancient city — details that draw people back again and again.

Though the city changes rapidly with each passing day, without understanding the Red Building, Beijing will always remain a blur to you. So whenever you can, come here. History awaits you here — listen to its voice, see its footprints.

Visiting Information:

Address: No. 29 Wusi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing.

Transportation: Take bus lines 101, 103, 109, 111, 810, 812, 814, 819, 846, etc., and get off at Shatan Road Station.

Opening Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed on Mondays).

Nearby Attractions: To the east is the National Art Museum of China, to the west are Jingshan Park and the Palace Museum, a short walk south leads to Wangfujing and Dong’an Market, and a few steps north take you to Di’anmen and the Drum Tower.

Ticket Prices: Adults 5 RMB; groups (10 or more people) 4 RMB; students 3 RMB; free admission for seniors, people with disabilities, active-duty military personnel, and group visits (elementary and middle school students) with advance reservation.

Inquiry Phone: 010－64024929