Li Shutong (1880-1942), also called Hongyi Great Master, was born in Tianjin to a banking family originated in Hongdong County, Shanxi, that immigrated to Tianjin in Ming Dynasty though her mother was from Pinghu, Zhejiang province. At one side he was both a forerunner of the New culture Movement (around the time of the May 4th Movement is 1919) and at the other side he was a Chinese artist and art teacher in his ages.

The residence is a typical building in Qing Dynasty,it's got a history of more than 150 years and covers an area of 1400 square metres. It consitis more than 60 rooms of different functions.

The residence is divided into two major parts,and each of them is divided into two smaller parts . It is built along the street and faces the east. There is a garden called "Yi Garden" in side .More than five thousand books are kept in two reading rooms inside the garden. the residence has worn out through ares,so a preject is being planned to mend it and it will become a patriotism education base of Tianjin.