Former house of famous writer opens to public

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 ◆ Former house of famous writer opens to public

The old house where prominent Chinese writer Qian Zhongshu spent his childhood has survived demolition and been turned into museum commemorating him.

The house has been rebuilt since last December and recently opened to the public displaying the late Qian's life and achievements.

The 100-year-old house is located in the quiet old town of Wuxi in east China's Jiangsu Province, where Qian Zhongshu and several other renowned scholars in his family were born and brought up.

The house was due for demolition when the hospital next door planned to expand in 1996. Debate on whether to remove it lasted for a couple of years and finally the government decided to protect the historic site and have the hospital built in another place.

Qian Zhongshu lived in this house till he went to college.

As the most famous member of his family, Qian is regarded as a master of Chinese literature and culture. French President Jacques Chirac described him as "the embodiment of the finest features of the Chinese nation" in a message to Qian's wife when he died in 1999 at the age of 88.

His most famous novel "The Besieged City" which became one of the favorites of Chinese literature fans, depicts the ideas, hopes and aspirations of typical Chinese intellectuals. Qian was also respected by scholars for his literary critiques.

The restored house consists of 14 rooms with an area of more than 700 square meters. Computers are installed in the museum to make it easy for people to read Qian's works and view photos.