The Former Residence of Xu Wei, also known as the Green Vine Book House (青藤书屋), is a traditional Chinese-style courtyard dwelling covering an area of 478 square meters. Originally named Liuhua Book House, it was where Xu Wei, an outstanding literary figure and artist of the Ming Dynasty, was born on the fourth day of the second lunar month in the sixteenth year of the Ming Zhengde era (1521). Inspired by the tenacity of green vines growing amidst stubborn rocks, Xu Wei planted a vine near Tianchi Lake, leading to the renaming of the residence as Green Vine Book House.
Facing north and south, the Green Vine Book House features a main building with three rooms, all adorned with pink walls and gray tiles, presenting a neat and orderly appearance. A row of flower-patterned lattice windows adorns the stone window sills. Although not large in scale, the house is exquisitely designed and elegantly appointed, representing one of the few remaining examples of literati-style garden architecture in Shaoxing.
The garden surrounding the book house is shaded by ancient trees and adorned with swaying bamboo and winding paths. Various flowers and plants such as orchids, grapes, pomegranates, and bananas are planted throughout, creating a serene and charming atmosphere. Inside the book house, a strong cultural ambiance pervades, with plaques inscribed with Xu Wei’s words “一尘不到 (not a speck of dust)” and Chen Hongshou’s “青藤书屋 (Green Vine Book House)” hanging prominently. On the eastern wall stands a stele inscribed with Xu Wei’s self-portrait and praise, while on the western wall, there is a stele with Ruan Yuan’s “Chronicle of the Restoration of the Chen Family’s Green Book House,” providing a detailed account of the book house’s history. The room behind the calligraphy and painting area has been converted into an exhibition hall, displaying replicas of Xu Wei’s representative works such as “驴背吟诗图(Poems on the Back of a Donkey)” and “白燕诗 (White Swallow Poetry).”
Over its 400-year history, the Green Vine Book House has undergone several changes and periods of neglect, but fortunately, it was restored to its original appearance through reconstruction efforts. Since its opening to the public on July 1, 1981, it has served as a commemorative museum primarily focused on Xu Wei, exhibiting 50 replicas of cultural relics and artworks, and providing insights into Xu Wei’s life, historical materials, and representative paintings.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 0.5 – 1 hour |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 8.30 – 17.00; Last admission: 16.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0575-85134986 |
Location and Transportation
The Former Residence of Xu Wei is located at No. 10 Dacheng Lane, Qianguan Lane, in the Yuexiu District of Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, China. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 2, 5, 9, 11, 21, 52A, 52, 60A, 60, or K5A, get off at Jiefang Road Luxun Road Intersection Stop (解放路鲁迅路口), and walk about 200 meters to the west to reach the attraction.
Metro: The closest metro station to the Former Residence of Xu Wei is Hometown of Lu Xun (鲁迅故里) on line 1. After getting out of the station from Exit B, walk about 500 meters to the northwest to reach the attraction.
