Lu Xun’s Former Residence in Shaoxing

Lu Xun’s Former Residence in Shaoxing

Lu Xun’s Former Residence is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a classic red tourism attraction, and a patriotic education base.

Lu Xun’s former residence is located at the west end of the Zhou Family’s New Gatehouse at Ducangfangkou. Lu Xun was born here on September 25, 1881, and lived here until he left for Nanjing to pursue his studies at the age of 18. Even when he returned to his hometown to teach, he essentially resided here. : The New Gatehouse was where the Zhou family had lived together as a clan for many years. The original central gate here was a six-panel black-lacquered bamboo door, which no longer exists after renovation. The entire compound of the New Gatehouse is a type of deep, grand courtyard house unique to the Jiangnan region. It was built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty by Zhou Xiongzhan (1742–1821), the eighth-generation ancestor of the Zhou family, who purchased the land for its construction. The Guoqiao Gatehouse was also built at the same time.

A branch of Lu Xun’s distant ancestors moved into the New Gatehouse, and the lineage continued. By the time of the Guangxu and Xuantong reigns of the Qing Dynasty, the Zhou family clan gradually declined. In 1918, after discussion among the family members, the residence along with the Hundred Grass Garden behind it was sold to the neighboring Zhu family. After the change of ownership, most of the original buildings were demolished and rebuilt, but the main parts where the Lu Xun family lived were fortunately preserved. After the liberation, the People’s Government allocated funds multiple times for renovations, restoring it to its former appearance. Most of the original furniture was also recovered and displayed as it was.

Transportation: Except for Shaoxing No. 1 Middle School, all attractions related to Lu Xun are concentrated in the city center. It is recommended to take a taxi directly, usually within the initial fare of 5 RMB, which is both economical and fast. If taking the bus, you can take bus routes 7, 8, 88, or the tourist sightseeing bus from the train station directly; from the Shaoxing Passenger Transport Center, take bus 9 or 32 and get off at the Lu Xun Intersection. There is also a tourist shuttle bus departing daily at 8:20 from Wushan Square in Hangzhou. Ticket/Opening Hours: The Lu Xun Hometown combo ticket costs 80 RMB, including Lu Xun’s Ancestral Home, Lu Xun’s Former Residence (including the Hundred Grass Garden, the Shaoxing Folk Exhibition, and the Zhu Family Gatehouse), and Sanwei Study.

Suggested Visit Duration

30 minutes

Transportation

Take bus routes 8, 10, 13, 15, air-conditioned 16, 24, 66, 88, 108, 312, 315, 316, 317, or Bus Rapid Transit Line 2, and get off at the Lu Xun Hometown Scenic Area stop.

Tickets

Included within the Lu Xun Hometown Scenic Area (You may collect your ticket in person directly at the entrance of each attraction — Sanwei Study, Lu Xun’s Former Residence, and Lu Xun’s Ancestral Home — with your ID [one ticket per person per day, one ID allows up to two people to enter together]. The entrance to Lu Xun’s Ancestral Home has been moved to the Visitor Center; please collect your ticket directly there).

Guide fee: 80/110/120/130/150 RMB for different tiers

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Opening Hours

8:30–17:00; ticket collection stops at 16:00

Location

No. 229, Lu Xun Middle Road, Yuecheng District, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province

Lu Xun (September 25, 1881 – October 19, 1936), originally named Zhou Zhangshou and later changed to Zhou Shuren, with the courtesy name Yu Shan (later changed to Yu Cai), used the pen name “Lu Xun” when he published A Madman’s Diary in 1918, which became his most widely recognized pseudonym. He was a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang. He was a renowned writer, thinker, key participant in the May Fourth New Culture Movement, and a founding figure of modern Chinese literature. Mao Zedong once remarked, “The direction taken by Lu Xun is the direction of the new culture of the Chinese nation.” [1-6]

Lu Xun devoted his life to literary creation, literary criticism,… More details about Lu Xun++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units