Former Residence of Gu Yuxiu

Former Residence of Gu Yuxiu

The Former Residence of Gu Yuxiu is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

The Gu Yuxiu Memorial Hall is located at No. 3 Xueqian Street, Wuxi City. The Gu Yuxiu Memorial Hall was established on the original site of Gu Yuxiu’s former residence (formerly the Gu family’s “Baoshan Hall”). The architecture of Gu Yuxiu’s former residence has been restored and preserved in accordance with the characteristics of traditional Jiangnan-style residences. The restored residence covers a total area of 968 square meters, with a building area of 848 square meters, consisting of five bays and four courtyards. The first courtyard serves as an introductory hall and a brief introduction to the life of Mr. Gu Yuxiu; the second showcases his academic achievements; the third introduces his path to success and deep patriotism; the fourth houses the memorial’s research and archival facilities.

The Former Residence of Gu Yuxiu was built in the Jiaqing era (1808) of the Qing Dynasty by Gu Hongkui, an ancestor of the Gu family, and is a typical example of Jiangnan-style residential architecture. Five brothers were born in this residence: Gu Yuqi (Ph.D. from the University of Hamburg, Germany), Gu Yuxiu (Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA), Gu Yuzhong (Ph.D. from Cornell University, USA), Gu Yuzhen (Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA), and Gu Yurui (Ph.D. from Taiwan’s Chinese Culture University). The “Five Brothers with Doctorates” of the Gu family became a celebrated tale in Wuxi.

After Gu Yuxiu passed away on September 9, 2002, in accordance with his wishes, his son Gu Weiqing, representing the Gu family, donated the residence to the Wuxi Municipal People’s Government. In light of Gu Yuxiu’s influence both in China and abroad, the Wuxi government decided to restore and preserve the former residence and designate it as a cultural relic protection unit.

In October 2004, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee approved the conversion of the Gu Yuxiu Former Residence into the Gu Yuxiu Memorial Hall. The name of the memorial hall was inscribed by —, making it the second officially approved memorial dedicated to a notable figure in Jiangsu Province since the Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangsu Province