The old residence of Ren Bishi can be found
in Xinwuli, Tangjiaqiao in South Poluo City, Hunan
Province.
Ren Bishi, a great Marxist and proletarian
revolutionist, once served as the committee member of the central political bureau
of the Communist Party and as secretary of the secretariat. Born on April 30,
1904, Ren lived at the residence and spent his childhood there until he
went to Changsha City for
study in 1915. Ren died in 1950.
Ren's old residence was
constructed in the last year of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It was built in a
typical, southern-village style containing 31 rooms and covering an area of
about 1,204 square meters. The western and southern ends of the residence are
connected to other civilian homes, and on the northern and western sides there
are adobe walls surrounding a semicircular pool located in front of the gate.
Ren's
family once lived in the six rooms in the north, which included Ren's living room where
he spent his childhood and early youth. The room has been restored and contains
Ren' s bed, table and other possessions on display.
The southern estate, originally belonging to their neighbors, was converted into an exhibition room that tells Ren's life
story.