Former Residence of Ma Lianliang

Former Residence of Ma Lianliang

The former residence of Ma Lianliang is a cultural tourism attraction.

The former residence of Ma Lianliang is located between Machang Road and Munan Road on Hebei Road in Heping District. Built in 1937, the building is nicknamed the "Bump House" due to its textured, bumpy exterior. Constructed with a brick-and-wood structure, it was designed by Italian architect Paolo Poggi. It is a row-linked residential building — a new housing type influenced by Western terrace-style architecture, characterized by compact overall layout, interconnected units, and optimized orientation for lighting and ventilation. The building’s exposed brick walls feature scattered “bump bricks,” referring to the rough texture of over-fired bricks. These contrast playfully yet harmoniously with the pearl-string-like balcony railings and the ripple-patterned window decorations, creating a cohesive aesthetic. The semicircular arched doorway is topped by a cantilevered curved balcony, with its dynamic undulations producing a rich sense of three-dimensionality and light-shadow interplay, exuding strong Italian style. This residence now houses the Cantonese restaurant Yue Weixian.

Ma Lianliang (February 28, 1901 – December 16, 1966), also known by his Muslim name Yusuf, was originally from Fufeng, Shaanxi, but was born in Beijing. His courtesy name was Wenru. A renowned Chinese Peking opera artist, he was one of the leading figures in the laosheng (veteran male role) category, the founder of the "Ma School" of performance, ranked first among the "Four Great Dan," one of the "Three Greats" of the Republican-era Peking opera scene, and the flagship performer of the Fufeng Troupe. His representative works include "Borrowing the East Wind," "Sweet Dew Temple," "Qingfeng Pavilion," "The Four Scholars," and "Lost the City, Sliced the General." His father, Ma Xiyuan, was well acquainted with famous Peking opera actor Tan Xiaopei, and his third uncle, Ma Kunshan, performed in Shanghai... More details about Ma Lianliang ++