China Modern Literature Museum

China Modern Literature Museum

The China Modern Literature Museum is a patriotic education base.

The China Modern Literature Museum is a national-level key cultural institution and China’s first, as well as currently the world’s largest, literature museum. It primarily showcases the development history of modern and contemporary Chinese literature, as well as the literary achievements of prominent writers and literary schools, serving as a hub for research on modern and contemporary literature.

The China Modern Literature Museum is inseparable from Mr. Ba Jin. The literary master Ba Jin was a pure modern writer who, in his later years, realized his responsibility to pass on the imprint of an era. He hoped that there would be a dedicated institution capable of collecting, preserving, organizing, researching, and displaying the works of modern writers. On February 14, 1981, in the eleventh installment of his “Creation Memoirs” titled “On ‘Cold Night’” and the “Postscript to Creation Memoirs,” written for Hong Kong’s Wen Wei Po, Mr. Ba Jin first proposed the establishment of the China Modern Literature Museum. This proposal was officially published in the People’s Daily on March 12, 1981, immediately generating strong repercussions both domestically and internationally. On April 20, the expanded meeting of the presidium of the China Writers Association discussed and approved the decision to establish the China Modern Literature Museum, which was then submitted to the central government for approval.

On October 13, 1981, the Preparatory Committee for the Museum’s establishment was formed. Kong Luosun served as the director, with committee members including: Ba Jin, Bing Xin, -, Zhou Yang, Cao Yu, Ai Qing, He Jingzhi, Yan Wenjing, Tang ?, Wang Yao, Feng Mu, Zhu Ziqi, Zhang Xi, among others. Other members included: Li Feng, Wang Naijin, Cao Lin, and Wu Fuhui.

In 1982, with the assistance of relevant departments from the central government and Beijing Municipality, the west courtyard of Beijing’s Wan Shou Temple was selected as the temporary site for the Literature Museum.

On November 16 of the same year, the “China Modern Literature Museum Preparatory Office” held its inaugural meeting, with comrades such as - in attendance and participating in the unveiling of the “Preparatory Office” sign.

A fiscal allocation of 1.5 million yuan was provided for the renovation of the museum building and the purchase of basic equipment, and Mr. Ba Jin donated 150,000 yuan to establish the China Modern Literature Museum’s foundation fund.

In 1984, the renovation work was largely completed, and the museum hosted exhibitions such as “The Life and Literary Career of Mao Dun” and “The Life and Literary Career of Lao She.”

On January 5, 1985, at the Fourth National Congress of the China Writers Association, the China Modern Literature Museum was officially established, with Yang Li appointed as its first director.

On March 26 of the same year, a grand opening ceremony was held, presided over by Mr. Ba Jin himself, with speeches given by - and Wang Meng. Over two hundred renowned writers from across the country attended the opening ceremony.

Address: No. 45, Literature Museum Road, Shaoyaoju, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Phone: 010-57311800

Official Website: http://www.wxg.org.cn/

Opening Hours:

9:00–16:30 (Closed on Mondays)

Admission Fee:

20 yuan

Information Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development