Zhou Enlai's Former Residence

Zhou Enlai's Former Residence (周恩来故居) is located at 7 Fuma Lane in Huai'an District, Huai'an, Jiangsu province. It is the house in which Zhou Enlai was born in 1898 and where he spent part of his childhood before leaving Huai'an for northeast China around 1910. Zhou went on to become a leading figure of the Chinese Communist Party and, from 1949 until his death in 1976, the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, making the house one of the country's best-known sites of political memory. The residence is a typical late Qing household of the Jianghuai region, built of brick and timber with grey tile roofs and arranged in successive courtyards. The family occupied part of a larger complex, and rooms shown to visitors include the bedroom in which Zhou was born, the family reception room, kitchen and study. Furnishings and everyday objects are displayed in a way that evokes the household as it might have appeared at the turn of the 20th century. The house was designated a protected cultural relic and has been restored, with nearby buildings added to create a memorial area, where photographs, letters and documents narrate Zhou's life and career. The surrounding neighbourhood retains some narrow lanes and old houses, and the site is within walking distance of the Zhenhuai Building and other old-city landmarks. Admission is free, although visitors should be prepared to present identification, as is common at national memorial sites in China. Opening hours are 08:30-17:00 in summer and 08:30-16:30 in other seasons. A full visit typically takes about one hour, and the site is popular with domestic tour groups.