Cao Xueqin, the author of the world famous novel A Dream of Red Mansions, gave us the most wonderful literary work in the Qing Dynasty. Having gone through the changing from prosperity to depression, Cao Xueqin also tasted the bitter of the coldness of people. The novel is remarkable not only for its huge cast of characters (most of them female) and psychological scope, but also for its precise and detailed observation of the life and social structures typical of 18th-century Chinese aristocracy. Displaying a panorama of the lifestyle of nobility, the novel has being researched by millions of scholars every year, and all the information of the book is precious documents for the researching of lifestyle and people's spiritual life in Qing Dynasty.
The Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall is located in the Botanical Garden under the fragrant hill in Beijing, and is regarded as the first discovered former residence of Cao Xueqin. The memorial hall is a rectangle courtyard surrounded by low walls. There are 18 rooms in architectural style of Qing Dynasty at the front and the back rows. The front exhibition rooms display the living environment of the eight-banner people living in Qing Dynasty, the creation environment of Cao Xueqin at Xishan, discoveries about Cao's life experiences in the past two centuries, and relevant books and articles. The six back exhibition rooms mainly display the life experiences of Cao Xueqin and the influences of A dream of red mansions. The exhibits include old fashioned square table for eight people, chests and trunks, porcelains and other religious wares, silver lock, hand warmer, and horsetail whisk that appear in the novel. In addition, the museum specially opens a room for the exhibitions on research achievements on Cao Xueqin and various versions of A dream of red mansions.
Admission Fee: 5 RMB /person
Opening Hours: 8: 00--16: 30 (winter 8: 30--16: 00)
Transportation: Take Bus No. 737, 904, 331, 833, 360, 854, or special 6, 112, get off at the station of Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall.