Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall

Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall

Located within the Wugong Mansion courtyard (formerly the residence of Wu Enpei) on the east side of Xixiaoshi Street in the old town area of Liaoyang. The site consists of 21 rooms enclosed by high walls, forming a small quadrangle compound. It covers an area of 1,300 square meters, with a built-up area of 630 square meters. Established in August 1997 to commemorate Cao Xueqin’s ancestral roots in Liaoyang, the hall was inscribed by the renowned Redology scholar Feng Qiyong. It is the only newly established memorial hall in the northeast following similar ones in Beijing, Nanjing, and other locations.

The Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall has an exhibition area of 480 square meters, featuring four display rooms. The exhibits revolve around Cao Xueqin’s ancestral home in Liaoyang and are centered on three stone inscriptions related to the development of Liaoyang. These include: the inscription of “Teaching Officer Cao Zhenyan” on the “Precious Record of Dajin Master Fashi” stele from the fourth year of the Tiancong era (1630) of the Later Jin at -Yuan Garden in June; the inscription of “Retired Official Cao Zhenyan” at the Jade Emperor Temple from September of the same year; and the inscriptions of Cao Shijue, Cao Deshan, and Cao Dexian from the Mita Temple in Xin Cheng during the sixth year of the Chongde era (1641) of the Qing dynasty. Cao Zhenyan in the first two inscriptions is the great-grandfather of Cao Xueqin, while the three individuals in the last inscription are members of the third branch of the Cao family. Through rubbings of these inscribed stone tablets, combined with relevant literature from the *Liaodong Cao Family Genealogy*, and presented as sand table exhibits, the museum showcases this historical connection. A seated statue of Cao Xueqin is also on display in the memorial hall.

Address: No. 2, Woshihu Lane, Wusheng Road, Wensheng District, Liaoyang City

Type: Memorial Hall

Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour

Opening hours:

Summer: 8:30–16:30 (last admission at 16:15); Winter: 9:00–16:00 (last admission at 15:45)

Cao Xueqin (c. 1715–c. 1763) was the greatest novelist of China’s Qing Dynasty. His given name was Zhan, courtesy name Mengruan, and his pen name was Xueqin, also known as Qinpǔ or Qinxī. His ancestral home was in Liaoyang. His forebears were originally Han Chinese but later became “Booi” (bondservants) of the Manchu Plain White Banner, thus belonging to the Banner system. He is the author of China’s classic novel *Dream of the Red Chamber*. Written during the latter part of Cao Xueqin’s life, which was marked by hardship and poverty, the novel was originally titled *The Story of the Stone*. The first 80 chapters were largely finalized and circulated in manuscript form. In 1791, Cheng Weiyuan and Gao E published the first movable-type edition, expanding the work to 120 chapters and renaming it *Dream of the Red Chamber*.

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