Beijing’s former residences of celebrities are mainly concentrated in the three urban districts of Dongcheng, Xicheng and Xuanwu. This is because the urban area of ??Beijing was not very large at that time, and it was outside the city if it reached the current Second Ring Road.
In addition, the houses in old Beijing are divided into "rich in the east and noble in the west" and "poor in the north and humble in the south". The houses and courtyards in the east and west cities are generally better than those in the south and north cities. During the Qing Dynasty, Han people were not allowed to settle in the inner city. The south of the city became a place for scholars and literati who came to Beijing to take exams. Most of the guild halls in old Beijing were concentrated in Xuanwu District. Since the Republic of China, the descendants of princes and officials who lived in mansions and compounds have sold and rented houses to make ends meet. Therefore, the houses they lived in have become residences for celebrities to buy or rent. The former residences of celebrities in Beijing are mainly divided into three categories: the first category is the residences where celebrities in China’s contemporary revolutionary history lived. The other category is the houses where modern and contemporary cultural celebrities lived and some died. The third category is the houses of famous people in history. This name is a little more complicated. Celebrities have good names and bad names, but in general they are celebrities, such as Li Lianying, Duan Qirui, Zhang Zuolin, etc. To use the current "neutral" term, these people are "Historical figures", or "historical celebrities". For example, although Li Lianying is an eunuch with a bad image, his role in modern Chinese history cannot be underestimated, so his name is well known to both women and children.
At present, there are two former residences of celebrities in Beijing that are listed as key national cultural relics protection units: the former residence of Soong Ching Ling and the former residence of Guo Moruo.
There are 11 places listed as cultural relics protection units in Beijing: Lu Xun’s former residence, Mao Zedong’s former residence, Li Dazhao’s former residence, Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s death memorial site, Zhu Yizun’s former residence (Shunde Guild Hall), Kang Youwei’s former residence, Mei Lanfang’s former residence, Cheng Yanqiu’s former residence, Qi Baishi’s former residence, Lao She’s former residence, and Mao Dun’s former residence.
Determining the former residences of celebrities
Speaking of it, the former residences of celebrities are really complicated. First of all, some celebrities have lived in more than one place. It is difficult to say which place should be regarded as their former residence. For example, Li Dazhao lived in five places in Beijing during his lifetime, Lu Xun lived in four places in Beijing, and Lao She lived in ten places in Beijing. Should any place where a celebrity has lived be counted as a former residence?
Judging from the former residences of celebrities currently recognized as cultural relics protection units, they are mainly based on factors such as history, culture, politics, and residential conditions. No. 75 Dongtangzi Hutong, Dongcheng District, is the former residence of Cai Yuanpei. Cai Yuanpei was a Jinshi in 1890 and later served as the Director-General of Education of the Nanjing Provisional Government. Cai Yuanpei is known as an "academic leader" and has a high official position. However, he is very frugal. He has been in Beijing for many years and has never bought a house. He has always rented a house. He lived in Xicheng, Xuanwu, and Dongcheng successively, and he only identified No. 75 Dongtangzi Hutong as his former residence because when he lived in this courtyard, the May Fourth Movement broke out. Because this is a rented house, it used to be a large house with three entrances to the east and west. Later, it was divided into two courtyards. Several rooms where Cai Yuanpei lived were connected to a small room. However, the structure was not significantly changed. It is now ten A large courtyard where several households live. In 1984 it was announced as a district-level cultural relic protection unit. In 2000, the west entrance of Dongtangzi Hutong was demolished and renovated, and the house was retained after the recommendation of the CPPCC members.
Another example is the former residence of Qi Baishi, which was first located in No. 13 Yuer Hutong in Nanluogu Lane, Dongcheng District. This house was originally the private residence of a minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Qing Dynasty. He was impeached because he used materials used in the construction of the imperial palace and the architectural shape of the house exceeded the rank. Since then, the house has been divided into several parts and sold. Courtyard No. 13 is only a part of the original house. It was bought by the Ministry of Culture after liberation, and several of them were lived in by Mr. Qi Baishi. Later, the house where Qi Baishi lived was turned into a former residence and memorial hall. During the "Cultural Revolution", the memorial hall was canceled. In 1986, it was announced as a cultural relic protection unit in Dongcheng District.
Qi Baishi lived in several places in Beijing in his early years, such as Longquan Temple in the south of the city, Shideng Temple inside Xuanwu Gate, etc. But the place where he has lived the longest is Courtyard No. 13, Kuache Hutong, in Picai Hutong, Xicheng District. From the age of 50 until his death, he lived in this small courtyard.
Not only was this his private property, but during his stay there, he created a large number of works of art and hosted many domestic and foreign celebrities and artists. It is undisputed that this house is his former residence.
A similar situation exists in the former residence of Lao She. According to Shu Yi, Mr. Lao She has lived in ten places in Beijing, and worked and been in contact with even more places. But the places that best reflect his life and creation are Xiaoyangjia Hutong and Fuqiang Hutong. Therefore, it is more appropriate to designate the former as Lao She’s former residence and the latter as his former residence.