A visit to the Lao She Commemorative Museum

There is no better way to remember Lao She, the celebrated Chinese writer, than to pay an extended visit to his former residence - now the Lao She Commemorative Museum - on the 45th anniversary of his death which is this Wednesday.

Hidden in an old hutong in the eastern part of Beijing, the traditional courtyard house was opened to citizens and tourists in 1999 on the author's 100th birthday, with visitors being able to visit free of charge.

Lao She is the pseudonym of Shu Qingchun. Born in 1899 in Beijing, Lao She was named "the people's artist" for his literary works focusing on ordinary people and their predicaments in a turbulent society. His widely acclaimed novels include Rickshaw Boy, which was published in 1936 and Teahouse, which was published in 1957. Today, his works are not only used as teaching materials in school in China but also in Asian countries such as Singapore and Malaysia.

This quiet, yet fascinating courtyard was where Lao She spent his 16 most prolific years. He completed 24 novels while living in this residence. He also received many distinguished guests here, including former Chinese premier Zhou Enlai and fellow established writers Ba Jin, Cao Yu and Zhao Shuli.

In 1994, the residence along with many of Lao She's collections of paintings and calligraphic works, were donated to the nation by the writer's family. It was renovated as a commemorative museum in 1998.

The museum displays the daily life of Lao She by keeping the layout of his study exactly the same as it was when he lived there. The house includes a living room and an impressive exhibition of his works including those translated into foreign languages. But perhaps the most tangible example of how he lives on through his deeds is provided by the two persimmon trees planted by Lao She himself in the front yard, which bear plump and mellow fruits each autumn.