Qingguo Lane is one of Changzhou’s famous ancient alleys. Located downtown, it adjoins the South City River—the oldest section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Spreading along the river in a comb-like pattern, it features a “dual T-shaped water-land layout” and retains the traditional Jiangnan residential style of “rivers embracing the ancient city” after over 2,500 years.
As Changzhou’s cultural heart, Qingguo Lane’s scholarly tradition dates to the Tang Dynasty. A hub for prominent clans, it has nurtured nearly 100 imperial examination top achievers and many modern celebrities, earning the title “No.1 Lane of Celebrities in Jiangnan” and standing as Changzhou’s best-preserved Ming-Qing architecture museum.
Notable sites: Former Residence of Shi Liang (a late Qing Jiangnan-style building), Zhou Youguang Library (in Lihe Hall), and Zhenhe Hall (housing Tang Jingchuan Memorial Hall)—the best-preserved and grandest among the “Eight Residences of the Tang Clan.”
The Qingguo Lane Cultural Memory Museum is located at the eastern end of the Qingguo Lane Historical and Cultural District, near the visitor center. As the central museum in the district’s museum complex, it is divided into four courtyards.The exhibition within the museum combines various image materials and extensive multimedia technologies, showcasing the charm of “The First Alley of Jiangnan’s Notable Figures” from four perspectives: geographical location, cultural achievements, heritage continuity, and cultural lineage.
The most celebrated tales in Qingguo Lane revolve around the prominent aristocratic families. This nearly one-kilometer-long alley has produced nearly a hundred imperial scholars and nurtured a multitude of outstanding talents renowned across China. The second section of the exhibition hall, titled “Poetry and Classics in the Family: The Cultivation of Human Virtues,” provides a detailed introduction to the historical figures and literati associated with Qingguo Lane.
The former residence of Qu Qiubai is located at 188 Yanling West Road, Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, and consists of two parts: the former residence and the memorial hall. Qu Qiubai was one of the early main leaders of the CPC, a great Marxist, an outstanding proletarian revolutionist, theorist and propagandist, and one of the important founders of Chinese revolutionary literature.
The former residence of Qu Qiubai is not only a witness to revolutionary history, but also a vivid classroom for educating future generations on revolutionary traditions. Here, we can feel the historical atmosphere of Qu Qiubai and his family, and appreciate their firm belief and selfless dedication to the revolutionary cause.