Novelist's former residence reopens to public

Qian Zhongshu's former residence in No 30-1, Xinjie Alley of Wuxi is officially reopened on Oct 1. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxifabu2013]

Qian Zhongshu's former residence at No 30-1, Xinjie Alley of Wuxi will be officially reopened on Oct 1 after one year's restoration and rearrangement.

Renowned as a great master of culture, Qian Zhongshu spent his boyhood at the residence.

Qian's residence underwent a first restoration in 2001, which was completed by May of the following year. However, the renovation was imperfect due to lack of relevant materials.

In 2017, Qian's niece Qian Jingru vacated No 32 Xinjie Alley so that the two parts of Qian's residence could finally be reunited.

The latest overhaul of the residence targeted both its appearance and exhibits.

The building was restored to its original appearance to the largest extent possible. For instance, its narrow alley was made part of a tourist attraction and the original modern door and window were replaced with wooden grids.

Covering an area of 500 square meters, the restored residence shows Qian Zhongshu's life especially his childhood. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxifabu2013]

The restored residence at No 30-1 of Xinjie Alley covers a total area of more than 500 square meters.

Original manuscripts of Qian Zhongshu and his wife Yang Jiang are displayed in the residence, including letters that Qian wrote to Chen Ruinong, former curator of Wuxi Museum, books with annotations made by the couple, and other materials from Tsinghua University.

The rearranged residence consists of 15 areas, 11 of which are open to the public. The eighth area displays Qian's family photos.

In addition, a wall skirt was added to protect the residence from moisture and a scrolling electronic display screen was set in the hallway.

Qian Zhongshu's former residence opens from 9:00 to 16:30 every day.