Former Residence of Wang Li

Former Residence of Wang Li

The Former Residence of Wang Li is a cultural tourism site.

Former Residence of Wang Li

The Former Residence of Wang Li is located in Qishanpo Team, Xinzong Village, on the western outskirts of Bobai County, about 1 kilometer from the county town and beside the Bobai–Shuiming Highway. It is a cultural and historical tourism attraction, known as the birthplace and childhood home of Mr. Wang Li, hailed as “the greatest linguist in China in the past century.” The residence was first built in the first year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1796) by Wang Li’s grandfather, Wang Ziting. It consists of three sections and 27 rooms, featuring a single-story structure with earthen bricks, wooden beams, and a suspended hip-and-gable roof—representing a typical example of traditional Southern Hakka residential architecture. It was restored in 2003 and opened to the public.

The restored residence covers an area of 1,400 square meters and retains the original appearance of the historic home. It integrates culture, academia, art, historical materials, and sightseeing. The exhibits are rich and detailed, covering aspects such as Mr. Wang Li’s family background and childhood, his ten years without formal schooling, his striving for self-improvement, and his journey to study abroad. There are also precious historical materials about his academic exchanges with masters of Chinese studies such as Liang Qichao, Wang Guowei, Zhao Yuanren, and Chen Yinke, as well as renowned writers like Zhu Ziqing and Wen Yiduo, reflecting the varied experiences of Wang Li’s life. The displays vividly recreate the scholarly and educational ethos of this master, described as “a literary master in life, and the inspiration for thousands of talents in death,” and offer a comprehensive introduction to the brilliant academic achievements of Wang Li’s over 10 million words of written work. The residence includes exhibition halls such as the “Dragon and Insect Carving Studio,” “Wang Studies Library,” “Calligraphy and Stone Tablet Grove,” “Birthplace of Wang Li,” “Wang Li Works Reading Room,” “Wang Li Reception Room,” and “Flower Hall Courtyard.” These spaces recreate the academic career and personality, charm, and influence of the “master of his generation,” Wang Li, holding significant cultural and historical value.