Former Homes of the Famous in Xicheng District

Over its history Beijing has attracted many of China's great statesmen as well its artists, writers, and famous wives. And as everybody knows, nothing is quite as fascinating as the celebrity home.

In Beijing, such homes are often located in courtyard hutongs and often an convey an elegant, understated atmosphere. Many are now small celebratory museums.

They are not always open so it is advisable to make a call first.

Xicheng District

 

Former Residence of Soong Qing Ling

Add: 46 Houhai Beiyan

Tel: (010) 6404-4205

Open: 9am-4pm

Admission: 20 yuan

Buses: 27, 44, 55, 305, 315, 344, 345, 348, 919, subway

This garden originally belonged to a Qing dynasty prince. Soong Qingling (1893-1981), wife of Sun Yat Sen and one-time National Chairperson, and one of the incomparable Soong sisters, lived here from 1963 until her death in 1981.

Former Residence of Guo Moruo

Add: 18 Qianhai Xijie

Tel: (010) 6612-5984

Open: 9am-4:30pm (closed Monday)

Admission: 8 yuan

Buses: 13, 107, 111, 118, 701, 810, 823

Guo Moruo (1892-1978), one of China's most fêted writers, lived here for a decade and half until his death in 1978.Deng Yingchao, wife of Premier Zhou Enlai wrote the plaque on the gate.

Former Residence of Mei Lanfang

Tel: (010) 6618-0351

Add: 9 Huguosi Jie

Open: 9am-4pm (closed Monday)

Admission: 6 yuan

Buses: 13, 22, 38, 47, 107, 111, 409, 709, 726, 806, 810

Most of the 30 thousand relics belonging to Mei Lanfang (1894-1961), a Peking Opera master, are genuine, including miscellaneous historic material, photos, art and international cultural exchange documents.

Former Residence of Xu Beihong

Tel: (010) 6225-2265

Add: 53 Xinjiekoubei Dajie

Open: 9am-5pm

Admission: 5 yuan for adults, 2.5 yuan for students

Buses: 22, 27, 38, 44, 47, 105, 107, 315, 331, 409, 709, 726, 810

Exhibits include masterpieces, Chinese and Western oil paintings from different periods of this famous artist's life (1895-1953).

Former Residence of Mao Dun

Tel: (010) 6404-0520

Add: 13 Yuan'en Si Jie, Jiao Daokou

Open: 9am-4pm

Admission: 5 yuan

Buses: 104, 107, 108, 713

Mao Dun (1904-1992), a famous writer, spent the last six years of his life in this house. Thousands of manuscripts, books, and articles are evidence of this great life.

Former Residence of Lu Xun

Tel: (010) 6616-4168

Add: 19 Ertiao, Gongmenkou, Fuchengmennei Dajie

Open: 9am-4pm (closed Monday)

Admission: 5 yuan

Buses: 13, 101, 102, 103

Lu Xun (1881-1936), father of modern Chinese literature wrote many of his essays and novels in this small courtyard garden.