Reina
We chose your company above others because of your prompt and efficient system on email - You gave us everything and more that we wanted to do and see in China on our guided tour of Beijing and Xian - Without our guide in China we would have been lost both against language barrier and places to see.Our guide Peter and his driver Mr Leo were both courteous and polite and made our trip fantastic. With a family of six with two children and two elderly parents this trip was both educational and entertaining whilst enjoying and was worth every penny. Pass on our thanks to Peter as we now have arrived back in UK today safe and well after our relaxing stay on Hainan Island.
If you wish I have no hessitation in recommending your company to any other English family who wish to make the trip to China - Unforgettable!!
Thankyou from the bottom of our hearts.
Steve Karen Daniel Aimee Joan and Graham Smith - England
Beijing Day Tour of Former Residences of Celebrities
Many Beijing former residences of "Celebrities" are well preserved and open to the public. Some are listed as the historic sites under city-level or national level protection. "Celebrities" here are the well-known persons who lived and actively worked in the most of the 20th century. The "Celebrities" are classified into three categories: famous China revolutionaries, famous China writers or famous China historians. Their former residences attract much attention from the public either because of their unique life experiences or because of their unique residences featuring typial Beijing traditional courtyard - siheyuan. The Beijing celebrities residences tour will give you more insight information about Beijing China and help you understand Beijing and its people better.
Tour Code: BCRT-01 Departure: Daily Duration: 1 day Pick-up point and time: Your Hotel in Beijing around 8:00am Finishing point and time: Your Hotel in Beijing around 6:00pm Payment Types: Cash, Credit Cards, Wire We speak: English
Itinerary:
Our tour guide will come to your hotel in Beijing and pick you up around 8:30am. First the Former Residence of Lao She. Lao She ( Feb 03, 1899 ¨C Aug 24, 1966 ) was a noted Chinese writer. A novelist and dramatist, he was one of the most important figures of 20th century Chinese literature. Then visit the Former Residence of Mei Lanfang (1894 - 1961). He was the best known Beijing Opera master ever. A famous singer, actor and dancer of Beijing Opera female role Qing Yi and a key figure in the Chinese theater. After a typica Chinese lunch with the locals in their courtyard home, you will be arranged to visit the Former Residence of Guo Moruo (1892-1978). He was an outstanding Chinese writer, poet, dramatist, historian, archaeologist and paleographer. Finally visit the Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling (1890-1981). She was late Honorary Chairman of the People's Republic of China, be known as "the Mother of China" by both the main political parties, the Kuomintang and the Communists. Return to your hotel in Beijing.
Former Residence of Lao She Lao She ( Feb 03, 1899 ¨C Aug 24, 1966 ) was a noted Chinese writer. A novelist and dramatist, he was one of the most important figures of 20th century Chinese literature. he is best known for his novel called "Camel Xiangzi" and "Rickshaw Boy" and the play "Teahouse". He was of Manchu ethnicity. His other famou novels include "Si Shi Tong Tang"( Four Generations under One Roof), "Cat Country", "Lao Zhang de Zhexue"(The Philosophy of Old Zhang"), his first published novel, written in London (1926). The Laoshe Tea House ( ÀÏÉá²è¹Ý ), a famous tourist attraction in Beijing that opened in 1988 and put on the regular performances of traditional music which takes its name after Lao She. Beijing Laoshe Teahouse Performance Add:
Former Residence of Mei Lanfang Mei Lanfang(1894 - 1961) was the best known Beijing Opera master ever. A famous singer, actor and dancer of Beijing Opera female role Qing Yi and a key figure in the Chinese theater. Mei was the first artist to spread and promote Beijing Opera to western countries, taking part in cultural intercourse with Japan, the United States, and other regions. He was known to have travelled the world, strengthened friendships with the western counterparts of his time, including Charlie Chaplin. During his trip to Hollywood, he was warmly welcomed by Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. Add: 9 Huguosi Street, Xicheng District.
Former Residence of Guo Moruo Guo Moruo (1892-1978) was an outstanding Chinese writer, poet, dramatist, historian, archaeologist and paleographer.
He wrote several historical plays and one of them is "Chu Yuan" (1942), telling the story of a dissident poet of the 4th-century BC. He also wrote lots of studies on Chinese archaeology, history, and literature. He worked as a government official from 1949 until his death. Add: 18 Qianhai Xijie Xicheng Districe.
Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling Soong Ching Ling(1890-1981) was late Honorary Chairman of the People's Republic of China, be known as "the Mother of China" by both the main political parties, the Kuomintang and the Communists. Return to your hotel in Beijing. He was one of the Soong sisters - three sisters whose husbands had great impact on China's development in the early 20th century. Add: 46 Houhaibeiyan,Xicheng District. Entry Fee: RMB 20 Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM; How to get there: Bus No.s 5, 27, 44 and 55; Tel: 86-10-64044205
Service package includes:
1. Entrance tickets
2. Pick-up service from hotel
3. Private air-conditioned car or van
4. Private English speaking tour guide
5. Chinese lunch
Service package excludes:
1. Personal Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness or damages incurred during your trip.
2. Tips to the tour guide and driver
Reservation:
1. Please use our online booking or send your travel request via email to info@tour-beijing.com. You are also welcome to call us at + 86 10 67160201 ext 1006 or 2007. If you have a last minute booking or an urgent matter after our normal office hour, please call 0086 13520598855 or 13901312027 ( 24 hours ).
2. Our real trip advisors will have your booking confirmed no more than one working day. We even take last minute booking if time is pressing. When your booking is confirmed, you will get a confirmation email or call from us, which includes the confirmed detailed information with price.
3. In your reply, please inform us of your hotel in Beijing and date for the tour. Usually our tour guide will call you on the evening before to fix the departure time from your hotel and collect the money on the spot when you board the coach.
4. Way of Payment: cash payment,credit card payment or wire transfer. Both RMB and hard currency are acceptable. Currency Converter
5. Our tour guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel in Beijing.
More former residences of the "celebrities": The Xu Beihong Memorial Hall
Xu Beihong ( 1895-1953 ) was an outstanding modern Chinese painter and art teacher. The memorial hall was originally located in his residence.but was moved to its present location when the house was demolished as part of Beijing's subway construction. His studio has been reconstructed just as it was when he worked in it. Xu was particulary renowned for the way he could capture images of horses. As well as displays of his workesthe new hall contains a pictorial summary of Xu¡¯s life and career. There are photographs of his visits to many countries, and his correspondence with school children, as well as telegrams of condolence upon his death from Chinese leaders. Add: 53 XinjiekoubeiDajie Xicheng District. The Former Residence of Mao Dun
Mao Dun(1896-1981) was one of great literary figures of modern China. He was the author of" Midnight", "Rainbow "and "Spring Silkworms", representative novels of the Realist tradition. He also translated famous works from foreign languages, and engaged in a wide range of other literary activities. Mao Dun¡¯s original name was Shen Dehong.and he was a native of Tongxiang in Zhejiang Province. He spent the last eight years of his life in a large Beijing courtyard house,with 20 rooms altogerher and one courtyard each in the front and back of the house. Grapevines creep along a large trellis, two white wax trees and two cypresses guard happy memories and present a calm atmosphere in contrast to the nearby bustling Annei Dajie Street. In the center of the front courtyard atands a marble half-length statue of Mao Dun ,erected in 1986. The back courtyard and its surrounding rooms remain as they were originally. In the sitting room there are rows of bookshelves preserved as they were when Mao Dun used them ..The calendar on the big desk shows February 19,1981, before he was hospitalized .A well patched set of night clothes hangs on one wall. In his later years, Mao Dun contributed all the payments he received for his works,a total of 250,000yuan(about US$30,120) to set up the Mao Dun Literary Award to encourage the production of novels. Add: 13 Houyuan¡¯ensi Street,Jiaodaokou,Dongcheng District. The Lu Xun Museum
Lu Xun(1881-1936) was closely involved with many of the dramatic social changes which have occurred in modern China,and his writings strongly influenced the thinking of many Chinese both during and after his lifetime. Chairman Mao Zedong once said"Lu Xun was the bravest and most correct, the firmest, the most loyal,and the most ardent national hero. A hero without parallel in our history". Lu Xun(real name Zhou Zuoren)bought a typical small Beijing courtyard house in 1923. He renovated it and installed in it his old furniture from his hometown Shaoxing,Zhejiang Provicne. In the north wall of the main room, Lu Xun cut a door and connected to it a small room with a big window which let in woods study, and it was here that he wrote some of his most famous worksm among them Wild Grass,Dawn Blossom Plucked at Dusk, Wandering and some of the essays in The Grave. The desk that he wrote at still stands by the eastern wall,and on it are his inkstone,writing brush and kerosene lamp. The simple plank bed is testimony to Lu Xun¡¯s austere lifestyle.The south room is a reception room and library,which houses a big set of bookcases designed by Lu Xun himself Ther consist of an array of wooden boxes which can be dismantled for transportation. To the east of the former residence is the Lu Xun Museum, which contains a comprehensive collection of his work.It has an afflilated research organization-The Institute of Lu Xun Studies-established in 1975.The two-story exhibition building contains 10,000 of Lu Xun's manuscripts,cultural relics he collected and other materials concerning his life. Add:19 Gongmenkou Ertiao, Fuchengmen, Xicheng District. Former Residence of Li Dazhao
The building faces south and is composed of three courtyards. Li Dazhao (1889-1927), lived here during 1920 and 1922. With the help of Mr.Deng Zhongxia, Mr.Chen Duxiu and others, he established the "Association for Study in Marxist Theory". Later, they set up Beijing Communist Group and met delegates from the Communist International. There are 3 trees and some potted flowers in the courtyard planted by Li Dazhao. Now the house is used by local residents. In 1979, it was listed as a major protective cultural relic by Beijing local government.
Lao She ( Feb 03, 1899 ¨C Aug 24, 1966 ) was a noted Chinese writer. A novelist and dramatist, he was one of the most important figures of 20th century Chinese literature. he is best known for his novel called "Camel Xiangzi" and "Rickshaw Boy" and the play "Teahouse". He was of Manchu ethnicity. His other famou novels include "Si Shi Tong Tang"( Four Generations under One Roof), "Cat Country", "Lao Zhang de Zhexue"(The Philosophy of Old Zhang"), his first published novel, written in London (1926). The Laoshe Tea House ( ÀÏÉá²è¹Ý ), a famous tourist attraction in Beijing that opened in 1988 and put on the regular performances of traditional music which takes its name after Lao She. 
Mei Lanfang(1894 - 1961) was the best known Beijing Opera master ever. A famous singer, actor and dancer of Beijing Opera female role Qing Yi and a key figure in the Chinese theater. Mei was the first artist to spread and promote Beijing Opera to western countries, taking part in cultural intercourse with Japan, the United States, and other regions. He was known to have travelled the world, strengthened friendships with the western counterparts of his time, including Charlie Chaplin. During his trip to Hollywood, he was warmly welcomed by Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford.
Guo Moruo (1892-1978) was an outstanding Chinese writer, poet, dramatist, historian, archaeologist and paleographer.
He wrote several historical plays and one of them is "Chu Yuan" (1942), telling the story of a dissident poet of the 4th-century BC. He also wrote lots of studies on Chinese archaeology, history, and literature. He worked as a government official from 1949 until his death.
Soong Ching Ling(1890-1981) was late Honorary Chairman of the People's Republic of China, be known as "the Mother of China" by both the main political parties, the Kuomintang and the Communists. Return to your hotel in Beijing. He was one of the Soong sisters - three sisters whose husbands had great impact on China's development in the early 20th century.
