Welcome to Former Residence of Zhu Ziqing
Zhu Ziqing, originally named Zhu Zihua, was an outstanding educator, poet, and essayist. Though born in Donghai County of Jiangsu Province in 1898, Zhu often claimed himself a native of Yangzhou, as he lived in Yangzhou for 13 years and later taught in a middle school there.
Though Zhu had started to compose poems after the May 4th Moverment (1919), his prose "Qinhuai River in the Oaring Sound and Light Shadow" published in 1923 showed his talent in prose. From then on, he devoted himself to prose creation, and achieved great accomplishments. The prose collection A View of Father's Back published in 1928 made him a highly reputable essayist at that time. The best prose of Zhu Ziqing (1898-1948), such as "My Father's Back", "Moonlight over the Lotus Pond" and "Green" were all included.
Zhu Ziqing was not only adept at descriptive writing but also an expert at weaving feelings and scenery into his descriptions. His landscape prose has a very significant status in modern literature. For example, "Green" exquisitely depicts the texture and color of the Meiyutan Waterfall using apt comparison and contrast. Zhu was very careful about wording and had a superb ability in manipulating language.
Zhu Ziqing was born in Haizhou, Jiangsu province, and moved to Yangzhou in his childhood and live there for 13 years. Zhu Ziqing was admitted to Beijing University in 1917, and in 1919, he participated the May Fourth Movement and stepped in the literature field and began his creation career of new poems and essays. In 1925, Zhu Ziqing was titled as the Chinese professor of Tsinghua University. In 1948, he died in Beijing because of poverty and illness at the age of 50.
The former residence of Zhu Ziqing is situated in Yangzhou, which reappears the living scenery of the family life at that time. Moreover, the exhibition of the life story of Zhu Ziqing reveals his unusual life. The typical Quadrate courtyard witnessed the childhood of Zhu Ziqing, as well as his poor but backboned life.
In 1988, the 90th Anniversary of Zhu Ziqing, the China former president Jiang Zemin composed a poem for the great writer, said that his famous essay shows the emotion which affects many people, and his virtue of unyieldingness would be remembered by generations and educate them. What’s more, the tablet on the door of the former residence was inscripted by Jiang Zemin, too.
Precious Photos
The second main room was set as the exhibition room at present. The life of Zhu Ziqing was recorded in the photos in this room. You can feel the kind and gentle personality in the photos and his works, and the simplicity and pure life will move you for quite a long period.
Admission fee: 10RMB/person
Opening hours: 8:30-17:30