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Homes of famous residents bring history alive
By Wu Huixin |
July 25, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SIGHTSEEING does not only mean visiting picturesque lakes and mountains, but also cultural sites that tell a city's history - such as the former residences of famous people.
Hangzhou has residences of numerous famous people, including many who made significant contributions to cultural and academic life in the 19th and 20th centuries. Visiting these homes can help provide an understanding of how the city and wider society developed.
Having introduced four such attractions yesterday, here are another four homes of famous residents that are worth a visit.
Former residence of Yu Dafu
Yu Dafu (1896-1945) was a modern Chinese short story writer and poet. He received a traditional Chinese education in Hangzhou.
After the start of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945), he wrote many works about the war.
One of his early works is "Chen Lun," published in 1921, also his most famous. It gained immense popularity in China, shocking the world of Chinese literature with its frank dealing with sex, as well as grievances directed at the incompetence of Chinese government at the time.
Yu's residence "Feng Yu Mao Lu is a Chinese bungalow in downtown. The house was designed by Yu himself and built in 1936.
It is said that Yu spent a large amount of money on the house, which he built it for his wife Wang Yingxia. The bungalow was regarded as the testimony to their love, although their marriage later broke up.
At one time, there were 9,000 books collected by Yu in the residence, but all were destroyed during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
Address: 63 Changguan Lane, Daxue Rd
Tel: (0571) 8704-7894
Admission: free
Exterior wall of Yu Dafu's residence "Feng Yu Mao Lu"
(This is the second of a two-part article featuring the residences of former famous residents in Hangzhou. The first part was published yesterday.)
Former residence of Pan Tianshou
Pan Tianshou (1897–1971) was a notable painter and built the foundation of Chinese traditional painting education.
His paintings of flowers, birds, mountains and water blended the styles of the ancient paintings and modern art perfectly.
By integrating poems, calligraphy and pictures, Pan established his own painting style.
The architectural style of Pan Tianshou's former residence is like his artistic work - combining Western and Oriental characteristics, not only modern, but also traditional.
Although the two-story grey brick building seems modest and somewhat solemn from outside, once you step in, you feel a breath of modern design.
Pan's south-facing studio has his drawing table, brushes, inkstone and bookcase arranged in perfect order. All the furniture in the bedroom and parlor is simple and plain.
Address: 212 Nanshan Rd
Tel: (0571) 8791-2845
Admission: free
Former residence of Xia Yan
Xia Yan (1900- 1995) was a Chinese playwright and screenwriter.
He entered Zhejiang Industrial School - a technical school of Zhejiang University - in 1915.
Among the dozens of plays and screenplays penned by Xia, his most renowned works include "Under the Eaves of Shanghai" (1937) and "The Fascist Bacillus" (1944).
He became a vice minister for culture in the 1960s, but later spent eight years in prison during the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976). Today, the Xia Yan Film Literature Awards are named in his honor.
Xia was born and grew up in the house for 20 years. Originally named "Ba Yong Tang" (°?ó?ì?), the mansion covers 1,000 square meters, featuring the classical garden style of south China.
In the front garden was a loquat tree planted by Xia's mother to cure a cough that troubled her son. In traditional Chinese medicine, people believe that soup made from loquat leaves helps.
Xia's father was a TCM doctor, so he planted many herbs in the back garden. But over the years the herbs disappeared, leaving ivy climbing the wall.
Address: 50 Yanjia Rd
Tel: (0571) 8643-4817
Admission: free
Former residence of Ma Yinchu
Ma Yinchu (1882-1982) was a prominent Chinese economist, praised for his theories on population control.
In 1957, Ma presented his New Population Theory that stated continued population growth at the high rates of the time would be detrimental to China's development. Therefore, he advocated government control of fertility.
However, Ma's theory suffered fierce political attacks during the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976).
In 1979, all charges against him were retracted and Ma's theory became enshrined in public policy. China's one child policy drew heavily on Ma's theory and followed his advice in utilizing propaganda on the dangers of uncontrolled population growth.
Ma Yinchu's former residence is in the center of Qingchun Road and stands in sharp contrast to businesses surrounding it.
Built in a Western style it covers an area of 486 square meters. A stone statue of Ma stands in the front lawn, while lush vegetation shades the house, creating a quiet, peaceful atmosphere.
The second floor was Ma's bedroom, and the desks, chairs, wardrobe, lamps and photographs are still in place. On the third floor, the Chinese characters for "Bamboo House" are carved - an alternate name of the cottage.
Today, the first floor and second floor are open to the public.
Address: 626 Qingchun Rd
Tel: (0571) 8706-6658
Admission: free
Hangzhou has residences of numerous famous people, including many who made significant contributions to cultural and academic life in the 19th and 20th centuries. Visiting these homes can help provide an understanding of how the city and wider society developed.
Having introduced four such attractions yesterday, here are another four homes of famous residents that are worth a visit.
Former residence of Yu Dafu
Yu Dafu (1896-1945) was a modern Chinese short story writer and poet. He received a traditional Chinese education in Hangzhou.
After the start of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945), he wrote many works about the war.
One of his early works is "Chen Lun," published in 1921, also his most famous. It gained immense popularity in China, shocking the world of Chinese literature with its frank dealing with sex, as well as grievances directed at the incompetence of Chinese government at the time.
Yu's residence "Feng Yu Mao Lu is a Chinese bungalow in downtown. The house was designed by Yu himself and built in 1936.
It is said that Yu spent a large amount of money on the house, which he built it for his wife Wang Yingxia. The bungalow was regarded as the testimony to their love, although their marriage later broke up.
At one time, there were 9,000 books collected by Yu in the residence, but all were destroyed during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
Address: 63 Changguan Lane, Daxue Rd
Tel: (0571) 8704-7894
Admission: free
Exterior wall of Yu Dafu's residence "Feng Yu Mao Lu"
(This is the second of a two-part article featuring the residences of former famous residents in Hangzhou. The first part was published yesterday.)
Former residence of Pan Tianshou
Pan Tianshou (1897–1971) was a notable painter and built the foundation of Chinese traditional painting education.
His paintings of flowers, birds, mountains and water blended the styles of the ancient paintings and modern art perfectly.
By integrating poems, calligraphy and pictures, Pan established his own painting style.
The architectural style of Pan Tianshou's former residence is like his artistic work - combining Western and Oriental characteristics, not only modern, but also traditional.
Although the two-story grey brick building seems modest and somewhat solemn from outside, once you step in, you feel a breath of modern design.
Pan's south-facing studio has his drawing table, brushes, inkstone and bookcase arranged in perfect order. All the furniture in the bedroom and parlor is simple and plain.
Address: 212 Nanshan Rd
Tel: (0571) 8791-2845
Admission: free
Former residence of Xia Yan
Xia Yan (1900- 1995) was a Chinese playwright and screenwriter.
He entered Zhejiang Industrial School - a technical school of Zhejiang University - in 1915.
Among the dozens of plays and screenplays penned by Xia, his most renowned works include "Under the Eaves of Shanghai" (1937) and "The Fascist Bacillus" (1944).
He became a vice minister for culture in the 1960s, but later spent eight years in prison during the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976). Today, the Xia Yan Film Literature Awards are named in his honor.
Xia was born and grew up in the house for 20 years. Originally named "Ba Yong Tang" (°?ó?ì?), the mansion covers 1,000 square meters, featuring the classical garden style of south China.
In the front garden was a loquat tree planted by Xia's mother to cure a cough that troubled her son. In traditional Chinese medicine, people believe that soup made from loquat leaves helps.
Xia's father was a TCM doctor, so he planted many herbs in the back garden. But over the years the herbs disappeared, leaving ivy climbing the wall.
Address: 50 Yanjia Rd
Tel: (0571) 8643-4817
Admission: free
Former residence of Ma Yinchu
Ma Yinchu (1882-1982) was a prominent Chinese economist, praised for his theories on population control.
In 1957, Ma presented his New Population Theory that stated continued population growth at the high rates of the time would be detrimental to China's development. Therefore, he advocated government control of fertility.
However, Ma's theory suffered fierce political attacks during the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976).
In 1979, all charges against him were retracted and Ma's theory became enshrined in public policy. China's one child policy drew heavily on Ma's theory and followed his advice in utilizing propaganda on the dangers of uncontrolled population growth.
Ma Yinchu's former residence is in the center of Qingchun Road and stands in sharp contrast to businesses surrounding it.
Built in a Western style it covers an area of 486 square meters. A stone statue of Ma stands in the front lawn, while lush vegetation shades the house, creating a quiet, peaceful atmosphere.
The second floor was Ma's bedroom, and the desks, chairs, wardrobe, lamps and photographs are still in place. On the third floor, the Chinese characters for "Bamboo House" are carved - an alternate name of the cottage.
Today, the first floor and second floor are open to the public.
Address: 626 Qingchun Rd
Tel: (0571) 8706-6658
Admission: free
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