Cai Yuanpei’s Former Residence（蔡元培故居）

Cai Yuanpei was a Chinese educator, Esperantist, president of Peking University, and founder of the Academia Sinica. He was known for his critical evaluation of Chinese culture and synthesis of Chinese and Western thinking, including anarchism. At Peking University, he assembled influential figures in the New Culture and May Fourth Movements.Had been leading a wandering life, Cai Yuanpei moved three times solely in Beijing. The residence that’s worth mentioning is the one situated at No.75 Dongtangzi Hutong. It witnessed his successful revitalization of Peking University and his dismay when he was forced to resign as the president of Peking University. The residence also houses many details about his participation in the May 4th Movement.

Hidden in the back of the residence are two small courtyards. The principal rooms and wing rooms of the residence are linked with a corridor. This was the former residence of Cai Yuanpei and it has already been converted into an exhibition hall. Standing out from the rest of the exhibits is a half-length statue made of white marble with inscriptions on both sides. The inscriptions represent the praises made by Mao Zedong about Cai Yuanpei. It says “An Outstanding Scholar, A Role Model Worldwide”.