Former Residence of Cao Yu

Former Residence of Cao Yu

The Cao Yu Former Residence is a national AAA-level tourist attraction, a Tianjin municipal cultural relics protection unit, and a patriotic education base.

The Cao Yu Former Residence Memorial Hall and Cao Yu Theatre are outstanding platforms that fully showcase the unique artistic charm of Cao Yu, a distinguished modern Chinese dramatist, and comprehensively interpret the formation of his artistic philosophy. They are important cultural resources in Tianjin and key windows for promoting Tianjin’s culture.

The memorial hall and theatre are located within the Italian-style area on Minzhu Road, Hebei District, covering a construction area of 4,613 square meters and a land area of 2,400 square meters. They were among the first 40 key cultural projects launched in 2010 as part of Tianjin’s cultural development and prosperity initiative. Following restoration based on the principle of “restoring to original appearance,” they officially opened on September 24, 2010, the centennial of Cao Yu’s birth, with the Cao Yu Theatre also being inaugurated.

The memorial hall consists of two independent two-story brick-and-wood villas with small front and rear courtyards, representing a typical Italian architectural style. Built in the second year of the Xuantong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1910), this was the “Wan Mansion” where the world-renowned dramatist Cao Yu (original name Wan Jiabao) spent his childhood and adolescence. In 2004, the building was designated as an “immovable cultural relic” by the Hebei District government, and in 2008, it was recognized as a key protected historical building by the municipal government. Many characters and stories in Cao Yu’s classic plays such as Thunderstorm, Sunrise, The Wilderness, and Peking Man are more or less inspired by this period of his life.

The front building of the memorial hall mainly displays Cao Yu’s childhood and adolescent experiences, his special affection for Tianjin, and his outstanding contributions to the theatrical arts through historical photos, manuscripts, books, and textual explanations. The rear building, the “Wan Mansion,” features restored interiors reflecting the family environment of Cao Yu’s youth.

The theatre is integrated with the memorial hall and serves as an extension of its exhibition. The first-floor lobby hosts displays such as the “Cao Yu Theatre Career Memorial Exhibition,” the “Cao Yu Theatre Historical Materials Collection,” and the “Manuscript Exhibition of Sunrise.” The second floor features exhibitions including the “Collection of Artworks Donated by 100 Tianjin Calligraphers and Painters for the Centennial of Cao Yu” and the “100-meter Calligraphy Scroll of 100 Quotations from Cao Yu Written by 100 Tianjin Artists.” The Cao Yu Library offers a selection of drama, poetry, and historical literature for reading and exchange. The theatre includes three small performance venues—Thunderstorm Hall, Sunrise Hall, and The Wilderness Hall—primarily staging Cao Yu’s classic plays and contemporary urban avant-garde dramas, aiming to convey and experience the timeless appeal of his works.

The Cao Yu Former Residence Memorial Hall and Cao Yu Theatre have hosted dozens of related exhibitions and events, including the Cao Yu Theatre Historical Materials Exhibition, Oral History Exhibition of Modern Chinese Literary Masters, National Literary Museum Theme Activities, and the Cao Yu International Academic Symposium. They receive an average of over 50,000 visitors annually. In 2013, they were designated as a Tianjin Municipal Patriotic Education Base by the municipal Party committee and government.

Address of the Cao Yu Former Residence Memorial Hall and Cao Yu Theatre: No. 5-7, Minzhu Road, Hebei District. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00–16:30, free admission. Contact number: 26292717.

Address: No. 5, Minzhu Road, Hebei District

Phone: 24461985

Cao Yu (1910–1996), originally named Wan Jiabao, courtesy name Xiaoshi, was a native of Qianjiang. He was one of the pioneers of China’s New Culture Movement, a founding figure of Chinese spoken drama, a renowned drama educator, and an outstanding modern Chinese dramatist. His tormented soul found peace at 3:55 AM on December 13, 1996, leaving behind immortal achievements recorded in history.

Youthful Struggles Reveal Brilliance

Cao Yu was born on September 24, 1910, in a hutong in Tianjin’s Xiaobailou area. His 92-year-old grandmother named him Jiabao. His father, Wan Dezun (187… More details about Cao Yu++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Tianjin Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Units