Lu Xun's Former Residence

Next to the memorial hall is the Zhou Family New House, the last of the three houses built by the Zhou family. This is also where Lu Xun was born and lived until he was 18. Lu Xun's bedroom. From July 1910 to February 1912, Lu Xun lived here while teaching in Shaoxing. The ironwood bed in his bedroom is the original from that time. It was here that he wrote his first classical Chinese novel, "Nostalgia." Lu Xun first met Yunshui, the son of Zhang Fuqing, a laborer working in the "busy month" period. Yunshui had a "round purple face, a small felt hat, and a shiny silver collar around his neck." Through him, Lu Xun gained an understanding of a strange world not found in books, which inspired him to create the vivid and artistic character of "Runtu" in his novel "Hometown."

Further down the road, we find Lu Xun's former residence. Many of the rooms share the same names, layout, and construction as his ancestral home. I wonder if this was an extension of the former residence or a reconstruction based on it. The backyard is the familiar "Baicao Garden," or perhaps it's the same as described in the novel: high walls, neatly arranged vegetable plots, and adjacent to the Sun family vegetable garden. The only trace of the "beautiful snake" is nowhere to be found—perhaps this is a regret of "growing up." At the end of Baicao Garden is the Wupeng boat pier. It's early spring, and it's not a holiday, so there are no tourists taking boats. It's very quiet. I sit alone in a small pavilion, a clear stream at my feet, whitewashed houses on the opposite bank, and residents walking around the street corners. If I were to change into a long gown, this would be the water town of my dreams.

It's just a short walk from where I live. It's open to the public for free! You can visit with your ID card. I give the scenic spot a big thumbs up.

Lu Xun's former residence is really big, and it takes half a day to explore it carefully.

The scenic area has preserved the old buildings of that time, restored the Tugu Temple and Shoujiataimen described by the master, and reproduced scenes from childhood textbooks such as Baicao Garden and Sanwei Book House.

Such a large scenic area doesn't charge admission, which is a testament to the generosity of the Shaoxing government. Lu Xun's hometown is a place that easily resonates with people: white walls and green tiles, winding stone roads, and the path from Baicao Garden to Sanwei Book House. The texts I memorized and copied from Lu Xun's textbooks often come to mind.

There are a lot of pictures and texts in the former residence, especially some introductions to Lu Xun and his two brothers.



Lu Xun's original name was Zhou Shuren. He was the eldest son in the family. His grandmother died of illness in 1936.



Zhou Zuoren was the second son of a Japanese woman whose name I've forgotten. His extravagant spending reportedly caused a falling out with Lu Xun, leading to their separation. He was also a prominent scholar, but unfortunately, he later became a traitor and, after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, was sentenced to ten or more years in prison by the Nationalist government.



Zhou Jianren was the third son in the family and one of the founders of the China Democratic League (China Democratic Progressive Party). After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he seemed to have served as the governor of Zhejiang Province.

Stepping onto the cobblestone pavement of Lu Xun's former residence feels like stepping into a textbook comic book. The old spiderwebs on the beams exude the air of a literary master. The mud walls of Baicao Garden have long been polished to a sleek shine. Tourists crouching to find Polygonum multiflorum are even more devout than even Lu Xun himself back in the day. The stray cats darting from beneath the banana leaves exude a scholarly air. The desk inscribed with the Chinese character "早" (early morning) in the northeast corner of Sanwei Bookstore is perpetually surrounded by cameras, its wood grain still clogged with eraser shavings from the Guangxu era. Around the corner, the former Xianheng Hotel wafts the sweet aroma of rice wine popsicles. Beneath the glass counter rests a copy of Kong Yiji's unpaid bill. Fennel beans crunch in your mouth. Kids next door hold "Lu Xun Milk Tea" cup holders, matching the graffiti of the great master. The musty smell of the back room mingled with the scent of tourists' sunscreen. Beneath the blue printed quilt, it seemed as if the stories of the red-bellied snake, narrated by the Zhou family's maid, were still warm. Light filtering through the window panes illuminated the old-fashioned toilet like a display case for artifacts. The most amazing thing was the cultural and creative shop at the exit. Pirated copies of "Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk" sat next to a model of a black-sailed boat. Scan a QR code and listen to the AI-dubbed sound effects of Runtu stabbing a wild boar—in this place, even the air is testing your reading comprehension. Turning the corner, I encountered a man in a felt hat posing for photos, and half-sentence, I thought it was the elderly Runtu, out to collect royalties.

Built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1796-1820), the former residence of Lu Xun consists of three sections, including a main entrance, a main hall, side wings, and utility rooms. Lu Xun was born here on September 25, 1881, and Baicao Garden is located within it. He spent his childhood and youth here, and it was also a key source of inspiration for his literary creation, leaving behind many intriguing traces.

In Shaoxing, the place for receiving guests seems to be called "Tangqian". This one is called Datangqian, which is Mr. Lu Xun's living room. Originally named "Ningshoutang", it was changed to "Deshoutang" to avoid the name of Emperor Daoguang, "Minning", which means accumulating virtue, happiness, fortune and longevity.

The Former Residence of Lu Xun is actually where Lu Xun grew up. Also known as Zhoujia Xintaimen, it is where the Zhou family lived together.

After Lu Xun grew up and moved on, he rarely returned, and even when he did, it was only for brief periods. However, because it was where Lu Xun spent his childhood, and given his later fame, it naturally became a cultural preservation area. While much of the former residence has been rebuilt, the Lu Xun Residence on the west side of the courtyard has been fortunately preserved. Most of the current buildings within the courtyard were rebuilt based on the memories of Zhou's family and friends. Entry is free with an ID card.

Shaoxing is the hometown of Lu Xun. He was born here on September 25, 1881. He lived and studied here until he left Shaoxing for Nanjing to study at the age of 18. He also lived here when he returned to his hometown to teach.

You can listen to the tour guide tell the story of Lu Xun

The tour guide is really hardworking.

In the future, children should travel more and study, not just study.

(Some photos are too large to upload....)

Lu Xun's ancestral home, Zhoujia Laotaimen, faces south, facing Dongchangfangkou in front, the Xianhuan River in the back, and Daijia Taimen in the west, facing Sanwei Book House across the river. Covering 3,087 square meters, Laotaimen, with its grey tiles and whitewashed walls and brick and wood structure, was once a feudal scholar-official residence.

Sanwei Academy was a private school in Shaoxing City at the time. Lu Xun began attending the school at the age of 12 and spent approximately five years there. Sanwei Academy, approximately 35 square meters, boasts a central plaque inscribed with the words "Sanwei Academy," inscribed by the Qing Dynasty calligrapher Liang Tongshu.

Lu Xun's Former Residence, originally part of the Zhou family's Xintaimen, was where Lu Xun lived, studied, and worked during his youth. He was born here on September 25, 1881. Lu Xun spent more than a third of his life in his hometown. After Xintaimen changed ownership in 1981, most of the houses were rebuilt, but the main structure of Lu Xun's family was fortunately preserved. The interiors are now displayed in their original state, with many of the original furniture. Xintaimen, located west of Dongchangfangkou, is a large gate building, similar in scale and structure to the old one. Facing south, it features gray-tiled whitewashed walls and a brick and wood structure. It consists of six courtyards and over 80 rooms, large and small. Including the Baicao Garden behind it, it covers an area of over 4,000 square meters. At the time, Xintaimen housed six branches of the Fupenqiao Zhou family, and Lu Xun's Former Residence is located to its west.

On May 22, 2016, I drove with my friends from Hangzhou to nearby Shaoxing. The first night, we arrived after work and stayed in a nearby hotel. The next day, we visited the Former Residence of Lu Xun in Shaoxing (since we only had one day off, we wanted to avoid taking time off, so we just spent the day there). Actually, one day was enough. After breakfast, we headed straight to the scenic spot and parked at a nearby bank (we arrived early and there was still a spot). Since we weren't sure how long we'd be exploring, and the parking fee was expensive, we walked a few hundred meters a little further, which was a good deal. Since we were from northern China and wanted to experience the life of a Jiangnan water town, we rented a boat and paddled from the starting point to the other end. Then, we slowly walked back to the starting point. For lunch, we found a waterfront restaurant. Their specialty was rice wine milk tea, but since my friend had to drive, we didn't try it. I'll definitely try it next time.

Shaoxing's most popular scenic spot, every tourist is recalling the texts they learned in their childhood, not to mention the smooth stone well fence, the green vegetable patch

2023.7.18 The most important part of our trip to Shaoxing was visiting Lu Xun's former residence. We also felt the charm of Baicao Garden.

This is where Mr. Lu Xun lived as a child. People who have read Lu Xun's articles feel very familiar with it.

The glory of Shaoxing, Mr. Lu Xun with both love and hate.

Since you are in Shaoxing, Lu Xun’s former residence is of course a must-visit place!

The scenic spot is free, which is rare. The most common thing I heard was: Wow! His house is so big!

The scenic area of Lu Xun's former residence is open to the public and is next to the Xianheng Hotel.

Lu Xun's former residence is just down the street, and there's also Sanwei Bookstore and other places.

During the National Day holiday, the queues lasted at least 15 minutes. There were so many people. Everyone was just looking at the ancient buildings or the stories behind them.

Come and visit the place where Mr. Lu Xun lived.

Lu Xun's Former Residence is a free attraction with many people. You can take a Wupeng boat and there is a free place to store your luggage.

You can also visit Sanwei Book House, it's a very good place

Mention Shaoxing and Lu Xun. As a renowned literary giant, Lu Xun's former residence is truly a fascinating place. Considering how many of Lu Xun's works I learned in elementary and middle school, I naturally feel a sense of connection.

Despite being a national 5A-level scenic spot, the Shaoxing local government not only doesn't charge admission, but also later built the Lu Xun Memorial Hall and designated an entire block as the Lu Xun Former Residence scenic area. This is a commendable point. However, it's just too popular, and I went at the wrong time, as the ticket line was incredibly long.

The attractions of Lu Xun's former residence are distributed in a small alley, including Lu Xun's ancestral home, Baicao Garden, Sanwei Bookstore, Xianheng Hotel, etc.

Due to time constraints, we chose to visit the less crowded Lu Xun's ancestral home. It faces south, has blue tiles and white walls, and is a brick and wood structure. The courtyard is not very big, there is no explanation, and we walked around on our own, and it took 20 minutes to come out.

After visiting the ancestral house, there will be souvenir shops related to Lu Xun. The design is quite innovative. You can stroll along the streets and feel the place where Lu Xun lived. There are various small shops on the street. These shops are similar all over the country.

The next morning, we went to Lu Xun's former residence to visit all the places we had not visited yesterday.

We arrived at Lu Xun's former residence at around 9 o'clock. It was quite crowded. The pontoon boats were ready.

We entered the courtyard of "Sanwei Bookstore" without waiting in line. The courtyard was full of small bridges and flowing water. Black-sailed boats passed by. It was quite artistic. There was even a school inside the bookstore. There was an old teacher speaking Shaoxing dialect and reciting the Three Character Classic. Many children were listening attentively.

Coming out of Sanwei Bookstore, I walked straight to Baicao Garden. This search was just a recollection of my school days. Back then, I was reciting "From Baicao Garden to Sanwei Bookstore." These two places aren't adjacent to each other; in fact, this short alley was where Lu Xun walked from his home to school. Coming out of Baicao Garden, I walked around to the stage, where they were performing an opera. It was quite lively, and I could actually listen to it, but I had no idea what was being sung.

One of the must-see classics, you can learn about the history of the Zhou family and see the living environment of people at that time

Just based on the sentiment and free, it must be five stars. It takes about an hour to visit once. It is recommended to go there on the way.

This is Lu Xun's real former residence, next to his ancestral home. It can be seen that he was a marginal figure, but it also protected his childhood and youth, allowing him to study in a private school.

This place reflects more of the atmosphere of life, with food, clothing, housing, transportation, and the hustle and bustle of people. Occasionally, an old Phoenix will pass by and ring the bell from time to time, giving you a sense of time travel. It is said that this was the small house where Lu Xun lived in the past. It was indeed a wealthy family, and the tables, chairs, beds and benches were all very exquisite.

I can only say that the courtyard of a wealthy family is really magnificent, with typical Hui-style architecture, white walls and black tiles.

Admission to Lu Xun's former residence is free, but the surrounding vendors act as if tourists have gotten a huge discount and are out to make up for it for the government. Their aggressive tactics are a must-watch. Visits include the Zhou Family Old and New Taimen Gates (the Baicao Garden is just behind the New Taimen Gate) and Sanwei Bookstore. Hometown is everyone's root; it holds the traces of our upbringing, our innocent and romantic childhoods, and unforgettable memories. Mr. Lu Xun's deep affection for his hometown permeates every corner of his writings. His words have accompanied generations of young students and, incidentally, promoted this water town.

The reason why Lu Xun's former residence is rated so highly is because this great writer has brought us so much literary wealth and admiration. From everything I learned about Lu Xun in textbooks to when I personally stood in the place where he appeared in the textbooks, even though time has passed, I can still feel certain emotions.

Lu Xun's former residence preserves his family's ancestral home, called Zhoujia Laotaimen. It resembles a Beijing courtyard, but it's different. Laotaimen is rectangular, with multiple levels of courtyards and rooms, equivalent to "three- and four-story courtyards." His first courtyard has a large skylight, primarily for natural light. The first large room is the living room, called "De Shou Tang," with the character "德" (De) still missing a horizontal stroke. The second-story room is used for ancestral worship, and features an interesting portrait: one man and two women. The man is Lu Xun's grandfather, and the one in the front is his grandmother. Which one is the wife? There's a young woman and an old woman. We guessed it was the old woman, but we were wrong! The young one is the wife. Because she died young, her portraits have always depicted her as young.

Lu Xun's former residence contains many interesting items, such as a lamp made of glass, a rare sight at the time, suggesting the Zhou family was relatively well-off. However, an incident devastated the family. His grandfather, having achieved some success, hoped his son would strive for a better future. However, the son cheated on an exam and bribed officials, leading to his imprisonment. The Zhou family's house was sold. Lu Xun later reflected on this incident, saying that without this ordeal, he would not have learned much.



Some of the objects in the former residence are truly fascinating. In one of the young master's rooms, there's a cabinet next to the bed with what looks like drawers. We thought it was a bookcase, but the guide said it was a toilet for a wealthy family. Another piece of furniture, a dining table, is made up of several irregularly shaped pieces, allowing you to change its shape at will, much like a tangram puzzle.

The kitchen has a large, three-in-one stove. Since this was a wealthy family, there's a smaller stove on the other wall, dedicated to making Western pastries. That's how the phrase "opening a small stove" came about. In the lower left corner of the stove, there's a large jar. Can you guess what it's for? It's a salt jar. So why is there a big hole underneath? Doesn't the salt leak out? Long ago, the salt we ate was large blocks of sea salt, placed in a jar. In the humid south, the salt melts easily, and the leaking salt is used to make tofu.

There's something special about visiting during the day or at night. No entrance fee is required, just swipe your ID card. It really brings you back to your childhood textbooks and lets you experience the stories of Lu Xun. Some of the snacks there are quite local, like the fennel-flavored beans.

After passing the Lu Xun Memorial Hall, you will reach Lu Xun’s former residence, Zhoujiaxintaimen, where Lu Xun, a Libra, was born on September 25, 1881.

He spent a leisurely childhood and youth in Xintaimen, and one-third of his life was spent in Shaoxing. No one would have thought that the tenderness of the water town could shape the "little prince" Lu Xun into the "national backbone" that will shine in future generations in China's modern history.

The Shaoxing Lu Xun Memorial Hall is the earliest memorial museum established in Zhejiang Province after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Its primary mission is to promote Lu Xun's life and deeds, collect and preserve his cultural relics, and conduct scientific research on his thoughts and works. Over half a century, it has become a "window" for international publicity and education in the historic and cultural city of Shaoxing, and a renowned cultural landmark.

When I was studying Chinese in junior high school, I was captivated by the story of Lu Xun and Sanwei Bookstore. I came to read it in person to feel the atmosphere of the time and experience Lu Xun's life.

The 5A scenic spot is free, which is great! Here you can see Sanwei Book House, Baicao Garden, and recall Lu Xun's childhood life.

A visit to the former residence of a scholar allows you to feel the atmosphere of the environment where he lived.

My college classmate was getting married, so we stopped by to visit. It was nice to visit, after all, it was free. We were able to enter easily with our temporary ID card, even though my husband had to carry his overweight backpack.

You can see the life of the wealthy families in that era

I visited with my childhood respect for Mr. Lu Xun, and it felt like a dream coming true.

Arriving at Lu Xun's former residence, I felt even more that the home of a great writer is also extraordinary.

The former residence of a literary giant is worth a visit!

If you go to Shaoxing, you must visit Lu Xun's former residence. Unfortunately, a lot of photos are gone, and only this commemorative photo in front of the former residence remains.

There are two Lu Xun Residences in the Lu Xun Hometown Scenic Area. One is the easternmost Lu Xun Ancestral Residence, where the Zhou family's ancestors lived before Lu Xun. I didn't visit it, partly because of time constraints and partly because I felt there wasn't much to see. After all, I was only interested in learning about Lu Xun, and his relatives were far from the topic. The other is the Lu Xun Former Residence, located north of the middle section of the pedestrian street, where Lu Xun actually lived as a child.



Although his family had begun selling off their ancestral possessions by the time Lu Xun was a child, there's a hint of modesty in this, perhaps suggesting they were indeed quite wealthy. The courtyard is quite large, and while it doesn't boast the elaborate landscape and ornamental details of Huaiyang salt merchants' residences, it's still quite a nice place to live. There's also a garden (Baicao Garden) in the back—what else would you want a bicycle for? Because it's so large, despite the large number of tourists, the air isn't as suffocating as at Sanwei Book House. Everyone quietly explores the courtyard. Since the house itself isn't particularly remarkable, I don't remember many things about it, except that it seems to have been planted with vines.



In summary, my biggest memory wasn't the scenery or layout of the residence itself, but rather the exhibition itself. In a room somewhere in the middle of the residence (I've forgotten if it was the original ancestral hall), the exhibition primarily introduces Lu Xun's two younger brothers, Zhou Zuoren and Zhou Jianren, through pictures. The exhibition doesn't discriminate against Zhou Zuoren because of his "rebellious" act of marrying a Japanese woman and staying in Beijing to cooperate. The story is told in a relatively calm and fair tone. At least after watching it, I came to understand his approach. As the saying goes, "family, country, and the world"—without family, how can there be a country? His third brother, Zhou Jianren, had a much smoother career, and I remember him reaching the high position of Governor of Zhejiang Province.



The entire former residence is well preserved, with centuries-old trees everywhere, which are worth seeing.

It feels average, but if you come to Shaoxing, this is a must-see

A typical Jiangnan courtyard, which seems to be seen in our elementary school textbooks.

The appearance of the house in the early 20th century also reflects the wealth of Lu Xun's grandparents.

Everyone should have read Lu Xun's articles and Shaoxing's local attractions.

I remember waiting in line for a while to get in. There were quite a lot of tourists. The food sold nearby, such as stinky tofu, was quite expensive and tasted average.

The style inside the former residence should have maintained its original appearance, which is quite retro. You can take a look at the house structure, furniture, etc. If you are lucky, you can also meet a professional tour guide explaining it there. It is worth stopping to listen.

Lu Xun's Former Residence is a truly user-friendly and wonderful attraction. There's no entrance fee (near the iconic sign depicting Mr. Lu Xun smoking a cigarette), and you can simply scan your ID card to enter the first stop on your Lu Xun tour—Lu Xun's ancestral home (Zhoujia Laotaimen). In today's world where everything requires a ticket, free admission is truly remarkable. The Lu Xun Former Residence is located on a single street—a short walk, really—so close together that it feels like visiting neighbors. Almost every name you've heard in middle school textbooks can be found here: Xianheng Hotel, Kong Yiji, Baicao Garden, Sanwei Bookstore, Fennel Beans, and Wupeng Boats...

When I was a child, I read Mr. Lu Xun's articles and went to Shaoxing to visit Lu Xun's former residence.

A must-visit place in Shaoxing, it's free. You need to scan your ID card to enter each scenic spot, and the outside is more commercialized.

There is a shop that sells delicious pickled mustard greens cakes.

Lu Xun's former residence was originally part of Zhou's Xintaimen, where Lu Xun lived, studied and worked during his youth. Behind Lu Xun's former residence is Baicao Garden, a vegetable garden shared by more than ten families with the surname Zhou in Xintaimen. They usually grow some vegetables here and use it to dry grain in autumn.

Entering the world of Lu Xun, as depicted in elementary school textbooks, is a truly Shaoxing experience. Although it's become more commercialized these days, it's still well worth a visit to savor the charm of his writings. Shaoxing is very close to Ningbo. My parents have lived there for nearly ten years, but they've never traveled far, working 365 days a year. I've been to Shaoxing three or five times, but only once with my parents. That time, I bought a return ticket from Ningbo to Shaoxing, which my dad scolded me for. While there are some unpleasant memories of our family trips, it's a privilege to be able to accompany them to see some of their favorite sights! I love Shaoxing, a city with a rich cultural heritage, and I never tire of visiting it no matter how many times I visit.

As an educational base, many people have studied Lu Xun's articles and come here to look back on their school memories.

It is almost a must-go place in Shaoxing. There are many tourists. The Wupeng boat is very interesting.

As a great writer I admire, I would give it five stars just for the four words "backbone of the nation"; more importantly, it is free, but you need to register with your ID card to enter, including the new and old Taimen, Baicao Garden, Sanwei Book House, etc. The former residence has a WeChat public account. After following it, you can listen to the WeChat public account tour guide's explanation at each point according to the prompts. The infrastructure is complete and the objects are well preserved.

The former residence of Lu Xun is where Lu Xun lived, and the room of his mother is still preserved. Behind the residence is the Sanwei Book House. The entire attraction is free of charge and can be entered by swiping your ID card.

A must-see attraction in Shaoxing. After all, Lu Xun has been an inspiration to generations of Chinese people.

It's a mature scenic spot, but it's still worth a visit and there's no entrance fee.

The entire scenic area is composed of and parts. It is not very large, but it takes 2 hours to see all of it carefully.

It is worth a visit and it is very helpful for understanding Mr. Lu Xun's life.

It rains and there are few people, so you can savor it carefully. It is similar to the ancestral home.

I learned so much about Lu Xun's writings in elementary and middle school, so I definitely wanted to visit the Baicao Garden and Sanwei Bookstore mentioned in his works! Baicao Garden is much smaller than I imagined. Lu Xun had so much fun there as a child, specifically looking for Polygonum multiflorum, but I didn't see any human-shaped roots. I'd definitely go back if I had the chance!

Those who like cultural landscapes can go and have a look. It's just that there are too many people. Other than that, it's ok. Going to Baicao Garden still fulfilled my childhood yearning.

Lu Xun's hometown. It was quite crowded when I walked in. Everywhere I went, people were carrying SLRs and cameras, recording these moments. It felt like every inch of land, every brick and tile, carried the traces of millions of people, enough to create ripples for generations.

The abundant green meets the eyes, making me feel refreshed. I think if I were to attend classes in such an institution, everyone would have the elegant air of a scholar.

This is a "One-Day Tour of Shaoxing" signed up in Hangzhou, costing 150 yuan per person. It includes visits to two shopping spots for tea and silk, and does not include meals (in fact, they will take you to a restaurant for a set meal, which costs 30 yuan per person. It is voluntary, and most of the group members still paid. Some did not pay, and I saw that they brought their own dry food for lunch). The tour includes four places, including Lu Xun's Former Residence, Shen Garden, Lanting, and East Lake. Lu Xun's Former Residence is where Lu Xun lived as a child. It was later sold to someone else, and now it has been renovated according to the records of the time. You can see Baicao Garden, Lu Xun's private school, etc., as well as the Xianheng Hotel in Lu Xun's book. Many people who come to Shaoxing for tourism must visit Lu Xun's Former Residence, so the tour guide said "Lu Xun alone feeds an entire city", which is interesting.

If you come to Shaoxing, you must visit Lu Xun's former residence. The entrance fee is free, but it is definitely Shaoxing. Take a look at Lu Xun's mansion and feel the grandeur of a wealthy family. Haha

Of course, there's so much stinky tofu on the streets... I can't stand it. But it's really lovely when the osmanthus flowers bloom in September.

I saw a lot of old buildings in the old city of Jiangnan, small bridges and flowing water. If you have never been to Jiangnan, you can go and see it. It is mainly because of its good humanities and many celebrities.

There are many people and the place is small, so just seeing it once is enough. . . .

When I was a child, I read a lot of books by Lu Xun. I am very grateful to be able to visit Lu Xun’s former residence.