Qi Baishi (齐白石 - Qí Báishí) Former Residence in Beijing

Rem Sapozhnikov / May 2014

Walking around Beijing in the area of Qianhai Lake (前海) I intended to go to Qi Baishi Museum (1864-1957) located three kilometers to the west from the Forbidden City. To my surprise Google maps showed that there is one more museum of this painter located not far from me to the east of the lake; its location address: No. 13, Yuer Hutong (雨儿胡同 - Yǔer hútòng). Shishahai (什刹海站 - Shíshāhǎi) subway station may serve as a reference point; it is necessary to go 600 meters to the south-east of this station. First you need to go along the small channel and then along the well-groomed street.

There is a plate above the entrance – "Memorial Hall of Qi Baishi's former residence". Working hours: from 9 am to 17 pm, ticket sales (5 yuan) are terminated after 16 pm.

Qi Baishi moved (or were resettled by the authorities acting in good faith) to this traditional Chinese house siheyuan only in 1955 when he was 90 years old! It means that this place can not be considered to be the home of the painter.

It is rather strange that in the beautiful brochure provided together with the ticket there is no information about the fact that Qi Baishi has been living for more than thirty years in another place in Beijing, 5.5 km away from here in Xicheng District; there in 1984 his real home-museum was opened.

Qi Liangzhi, younger daughter of the painter, recalled that her father really missed his home in Xicheng where the trees and flowers planted by him were growing. Therefore, he quickly came back to his real home. Zhou Enlai came to that place to visit the painter. House at Yuyer Hutong, which is now the Hall of Qi Baishi, has been soon transferred to the China Artists Association.