The former residence of renowned Chinese writer Qian Zhongshu is a typical Jiangnan-style folk house with a delicate courtyard, white walls and grey tiles.
The literary giant spent his boyhood and adolescence here studying and made his way to the famous Tsinghua University in 1929.
Covering about 1,600 square meters, the first two courtyards of the residence were built by Qian's grandfather in 1923 and the additions were constructed by his uncle in 1924.
The architectural characteristics of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) and the West are perfectly integrated in the building. Qian's grandfather named the house Sheng Wu Tang to encourage descendants to study hard and live in harmony.
The main building in the residence is Shengwu Hall. The word "Shengwu" comes from the Chinese classic The Book of Odes. It urges descendants of the Qian Family to continue the family's traditions and blaze a trail for the future, which laid a solid foundation for Qian Zhongshu becoming an accomplished scholar.
