Former Residence of Xia Yan

Former Residence of Xia Yan

The former residence of Xia Yan is a cultural relic protection unit and patriotic education base of Hangzhou.

The former residence of Xia Yan is located at No. 50, Yanjia Lane, outside Qingchun Gate, Hangzhou. Built in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, it is a traditional Chinese single-story house where the renowned writer Xia Yan once lived. It is now a exhibition space and is designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Hangzhou. It has also been named a patriotic education base of Hangzhou.

The residence was originally named Bayong Hall, a five-bay, seven-courtyard complex that served as the living space for Xia Yan from his birth through his teenage years. After expansion, it now covers an area of 1,200 square meters, with a construction area of 600 square meters, and features a courtyard-style layout and architecture typical of southern China. The exhibition rooms display the life and achievements of Xia Yan in the film industry, as well as personal items he used, such as glasses and clothing, along with calligraphy and paintings by notable artists.

The Xia Yan Former Residence covers an area of over 1,000 square meters, with a construction area of 467 square meters. The site includes exhibition halls, Bayong Hall, a silkworm-rearing room, a private school, Wu Family Shop, Xia Yan’s childhood bedroom, and a modern bedroom, largely preserving the original appearance of the place where Xia Yan lived during his childhood and youth. The first-floor exhibition hall provides a detailed introduction to Xia Yan’s life and his contributions in the fields of film, journalism, and diplomacy, with all displayed items having been used by him. The second floor houses a small screening room where films written by Xia Yan can be shown to visitors.

The Xia Yan Former Residence serves as a base for Party history education in Zhejiang Province and Hangzhou City, as well as a patriotic education base in Hangzhou and Jianggan District, and a second classroom activity base for teenagers in Hangzhou. The residence also houses calligraphic works and artifacts donated by renowned artists and cultural figures such as Zhao Puchu, Chu Tunan, Huang Zhou, and Hua Junwu.

Xia Yan [October 30, 1900 – February 6, 1995], originally named Shen Naixi, courtesy name Duangxian, was born in Yanjia Lane, Pengbu Town, Yuhang County, Zhejiang Province. He was a prominent Chinese writer in literature, film, and drama, as well as a social activist. He was one of the pioneers, organizers, and leaders of the left-wing film movement in China. In his early years, he participated in the May Fourth Movement and contributed to the progressive publication Zhejiang New Tide. After graduating from Zhejiang Provincial First-Class Industrial School, he went to Japan on a government scholarship. He studied electrical engineering at Meiji Specialized School. During his time abroad, he came into contact with the Japanese Communist Party, participated in the Japanese labor movement, and was involved in left-wing literature... More details about Xia Yan ++