Beijing-International >> Featured Culture >> Hutong >> Celebrities & Hutong
Lao She Memorial Hall

Lao She Memorial Hall is located in the No. 19 Courtyard, Fengfu Hutong, West Dengshikou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. Its former name is Lao She Former Residence, namely the Red Persimmon Courtyard. It was officially opened on February 1, 2001.

Lao She (1899 to 1966), his former name is Shu Qingchun, his other name is She Yu. He was a native Beijing Resident. He is a very famous author in the modern time. He once acted as preliminary school president, middle school teacher and University professor. During the period of Chinese people's resistance to Japanese aggression, he was in charge of the All China Art Cycle Anti-Japanese Aggression Association, he make a positive contribution in uniting the vast artists to participating in Anti-Japanese Aggression dissemination. After liberation, he took the positions as Vice Chairman of China Literature Association, Vice President of China Author's Association and President of Beijing Literature Association. On December 1951, he was rewarded the title as "People's Artist" by the Beijing People's Government. Lao She created lots of literature works that enjoyed great popularity in his life, such as Four Generations Living in the Same House, Camel Xiang Zi, Tea House, Long Xu Gou and etc.

"Red Persimmon Courtyard" was purchased by Lao She when he returned from America in 1950. It is an old style courtyard in Beijing. A small black door is in the west and facing toward the east. When you entered in, you will find a small courtyard. There are only two south rooms in the courtyard. Turning on in the west, you will find a three-wall courtyard there. It is the main part of the former residence. There are both three wing-rooms located in the east and west respectively. Now, it has become the exhibition rooms showing Mr. Lao She's works in different editions and period ranging from his first novel, Little Bell to his last but unfinished biographical autobiographical work, Under the Pure Red Flag. It reappears Lao She's achievement in his whole life. There are three north houses, two penthouses are located in the right and left respectively. Now it is the original situation exhibition, which display Lao She's original life features at that time. The bright room and west secondary room both act as the drawing room. Just in this small drawing room, Lao She met lots of cultural celebrities. Premier Minister Zhou came here as a guest for three times. He seated on the sofa in the Westside and talked kindly with Mr. Lao She. The east secondary room is the bedroom. The west penthouse is Lao She's study room and working office. The study room is small and simply. Several Lao She's favorite cultural toys lie on the hardwood desk that enchased with the marble. One is a seal that was engraved by Qi Baishi, an inkpad box made of jade that was sent by General Feng Yuxiang, One is a inkstone for calligraphy and painting of Li Yu, an older wearing straw hat in Qing Dynasty. It was in this room, Lao She created long Xu Gou, Tea House and lots of operas works, scribbles, papers, poems and essays in 16 years from 1950 to 1966.

Lao She likes flowers. When he feels tired in writing, he will go to the courtyard to enjoy the flower. The persimmon tree in the courtyard was planted by Lao She himself. Lots of red persimmons decorated in the green levies, it is very poetic. So the courtyard was thus called as Red Persimmon Courtyard.

It is Lao She Memorial Hall, and it is the home of Lao She who lived in Beijing, born in Beijing and wrote Beijing in his whole life.

Traffic: Bus Nos. 103, 104, 11, 108, closed in Monday.


English Version
Chinese Version
 Home
 News
 About Beijing
 Chinese Culture
 Travel in Beijing
 Study in Beijing
 BeijingQ&A
 Exhibitions
 Services
 Reservations
 Hotels
 Pubs
 Rental
 Recreation
 Life
Links

Copyright   |  About us  |  Service and privacy |  Cooperation