Lu Xun Memorial Hall in Shaoxing

Lu Xun Memorial Hall in Shaoxing

The Lu Xun Memorial Hall in Shaoxing is a patriotic education base.

The Lu Xun Memorial Hall in Shaoxing was first built in 1973. In early 2003, to restore the traditional appearance of Lu Xun’s Former Residence and harmonize with the surrounding environment, the exhibition hall that was out of scale with its surroundings was demolished and reverted to the Zhou Family’s New Gate House. The newly constructed memorial hall is located on the east side of Lu Xun’s Former Residence. It borders the Lu Xun Ancestral Residence to the east, the Zhou Family’s New Gate House to the west, the Zhu Family’s Gate House to the north, the Dongchangfangkou to the south, and faces the Shou Family’s Gate House across the river.

The Lu Xun Memorial Hall in Shaoxing was first built in 1973. In early 2003, to restore the traditional appearance of Lu Xun’s Former Residence and harmonize with the surrounding environment, the exhibition hall that was out of scale with its surroundings was demolished and reverted to the Zhou Family’s New Gate House.

The newly constructed memorial hall is located on the east side of Lu Xun’s Former Residence. It borders the Lu Xun Ancestral Residence to the east, the Zhou Family’s New Gate House to the west, the Zhu Family’s Gate House to the north, the Dongchangfangkou to the south, and faces the Shou Family’s Gate House across the river.

The Lu Xun Memorial Hall covers a total area of 6,000 square meters, with a total construction area of about 5,000 square meters. With the design concept of “old houses, new spaces,” it maintains harmony with the traditional street texture of the area. The exterior of the memorial hall adopts the architectural style of Shaoxing’s gate houses, and the main entrance features a traditional Shaoxing bamboo-screen gate house.

The environment of the memorial hall is serene. The plaza and outdoor grounds at all entrances and exits are paved with traditional Shaoxing bluestone slabs. Among them, the green corridor adjacent to the exhibition halls and the Lu Xun Ancestral Residence is planted with bamboo and rocks, adorned with flowers and trees, forming a typical traditional Shaoxing-style courtyard garden. There is also a water feature series that meanders northward from the west side of the lobby, creating an open water surface in the northwest of the site. Through landform shaping, tree planting, stone arrangement, and water management, along with the addition of uniquely Shaoxing architectural elements such as covered corridors and black-canopied boat replicas, it evokes the ambiance of the Jiangnan water town. The plants in the exhibition hall courtyard mainly include culturally significant species such as camphor, pine, orchid, and plum, while also featuring jujube trees, Chinese honeylocust trees, mulberries, mulberry vines, and raspberries, as recorded in Lu Xun’s “Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk,” recreating the environmental atmosphere of Lu Xun’s time.

The “Lu Xun’s Life and Achievements Exhibition Hall” of the Lu Xun Memorial Hall in Shaoxing is itself a modern exhibition venue rich in Shaoxing characteristics and contemporary features. Its design is simple and unadorned, fully reflecting the humanistic essence of Lu Xun’s spirit. The interior uses sculptures and stainless steel-decorated walls, enhancing the cultural and artistic appeal of the memorial hall through modern display methods. The architecture and water features intertwine, with indoor and outdoor spaces interpenetrating, forming a vibrant modern exhibition hall with distinctive Shaoxing characteristics. The seven large characters “Lu Xun Memorial Hall in Shaoxing” embedded on the front wall of the exhibition hall were inscribed by Guo Moruo.

The exhibition hall is organically composed of several parts: the lobby, north and south main exhibition halls, auxiliary exhibition halls, celebrity literature library, and leisure area.

Upon entering the lobby, visitors are greeted by a large bronze seated statue of Lu Xun, sitting among flowers, with a natural expression, amiable demeanor, and composed posture, more accurately reflecting his true image in daily life. On both sides of the lobby are large reliefs titled “Water Town Shaoxing” and “Famous Sages of Yue Region,” showcasing the long history and splendid culture of Shaoxing. Nearby, there are interactive touch screens for guided tours. The lobby space is bright and spacious, decorated with potted trees, creating a solemn and simple atmosphere that reflects the greatness and serenity of Mr. Lu Xun.

Time Needed

2 hours

Admission Fee

Free

Opening Hours

8:20-17:00

Location

No. 393, Lu Xun Middle Road, Yuecheng District, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province

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

Lu Xun dedicated his life to literary creation, literary criticism, ... More details about Lu Xun++

Further Reading:

· National Second-Class Museum of China