Former Residence of Liang Qichao in Beijing

Former Residence of Liang Qichao in Beijing

The former residence of Liang Qichao in Beijing is a cultural tourism attraction.

The former residence of Liang Qichao on Beigouyan Hutong is situated in the Beixinqiao area of Dongcheng District, west of Dongzhimen Nandajie. The hutong extends from north to south, linking Daju Hutong and Dongsi 14th Alley, and is over 300 meters long. During the Ming Dynasty, it was called “Xuefang Hutong”; in the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, it was called “Guanxue Hutong,” and during the Xuantong era, it was named “Beigouyan” due to its closeness to a water channel. In 1949, it was referred to as “Beigouyan Hutong,” briefly renamed “Hongdu Hutong” during the Cultural Revolution, and later reverted to “Beigouyan Hutong.” The western side of the hutong now connects to Xintai Cang 2nd Alley, while the eastern side has two branch alleys leading to Xiaoju Hutong.

No. 23 Beigouyan Hutong, formerly listed as No. 13 Beigouyan, is located on the western side of the southern section of the hutong, covering an area of 3,752 square meters, with its entrance gate facing east. The entrance is a so-called “Western-style gate,” a type of building-style gate, with a “straight screen wall” (yizhi yingbi) both inside and outside the gate, indicating the distinguished status of its owner. Although, from an architectural perspective, the “screen wall” opposite the main gate—also called a “zhao’bi” or spirit wall—serves both to block the view of messy walls or eaves opposite the gate and to act as a visual focus for the entrance, constructing such a screen on the opposite side of the alley would either require relying on another household’s foundation or occupying public alley space—something one couldn’t just decide to build arbitrarily. Therefore, in Beijing today, the only residences that still feature a “straight screen wall” outside their gates were historically mansions, government offices, or official residences—in short, homes belonging to the “official” class, not ordinary dwellings. Chinese characters convey meaning: “a box with a person inside” forms the character “囚” (imprisoned); “I (吾) reside in a road (行)” becomes “衙” (government office). Since the screen wall outside the gate serves as a visual complement to the entrance, the section of road in front of the gate naturally comes under the ownership or association of the residence. The screen wall clearly warns pedestrians: no loitering or loud noise in front of this gate. Liang Qichao once served as Minister of Justice and Minister of Finance in the Beiyang Government, and his status as a high-ranking government official matched the scale of this residence.

According to a 1951 housing survey and registration, the main structures of the compound are concentrated in the southern half, consisting of two three-courtyard complexes aligned east and west. The eastern part served as the residential area, while the western part was a flower hall. The northern half, accounting for about two-fifths of the entire compound, is a garden-style backyard with lush trees, rockeries, and pavilions. The backyard has a wall-piercing gate facing east, which serves as the back entrance to the entire compound. The compound includes a total of 129 rooms, pavilions, and verandas, with a built-up area of 1,535 square meters, including 47 tile-roofed rooms with wraparound corridors, 3 open pavilions, 21 covered walkways, 4 underground storage rooms, 1 air-raid shelter, and 1 pavilion. The specific layout is as follows: on the north side of the entrance gate, there is a row of 11 east-facing rooms, likely serving as an office (reception), garage, and accommodations for guards and servants. The back wall of the third east room from the south features a street-facing arched gate, serving as the “garage door.”

The specific layout is as follows: upon entering the entrance gate, you are greeted by a “straight screen wall.” Moving north through the “zhahua gate” (a type of ornamental gate) facing west, you enter the first courtyard of the eastern complex. The first courtyard has five south rooms and five north rooms, both with wraparound corridors; the central north room functions as a “waist hall,” connecting the front and rear courtyards. The second courtyard of the eastern complex consists entirely of tile-roofed rooms with wraparound corridors, including three main rooms, two wing rooms, and three east and west side rooms each. The third courtyard of the eastern complex has only seven rear rooms. Parallel to the eastern complex is the western complex, designated as a leisure area and commonly referred to as the “Western Flower Hall.” It also has three courtyards: the first, from south to north, consists of a rockery and three open pavilions; the second includes three open pavilions and three main rooms, all connected by a surrounding corridor; and the third comprises two east and west side rooms and a flat-roofed outer corridor.

No. 23 Beigouyan Hutong is now used as staff dormitories. The main buildings from its heyday are still present but are in a state of disrepair. Due to renovation and expansion projects carried out to address employee housing needs, along with the addition of self-built structures by residents, the compound has largely lost its former charm.

Address: No. 23, Beigouyan Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Phone: 010-65251562