The old residence of Qiu Jin is situated No 18 Hechangtang (a place of comfort) at the foot of Zhenta Hill inShaoxing City,ZhejiangProvince.
Qiu Jin (1879-1907), also known as Jianghu Nuxia (a heroine living nearMirrorLake), was a famous female revolutionary in modernChina. Studying inJapanin 1904, she joined the Restoration Society, Chinese Revolutionary League and other democratic revolutionary organizations. In 1906, Qiu set up theChinaCollegeand published the Chinese Women's Newspaper, which promoted Chinese women's rights, disseminated information about the revolution and engaged in anti-Qing activities. In 1907, she succeeded Xu Xilin to take charge ofDatongSchool. Here Qiu came into contact with secret societies and the organization of the Restoration Army in preparation for the Anhui-Zhejiang anti-Qing armed uprising. In July of the same year, having failed in the uprising ofAnqing,AnhuiProvince, Xu died a hero. Shortly afterwards, the Qing army besiegedDatongSchool and Qiu was arrested. She died in the name of the revolution at the age of 28.
Qiu's old residence was originally part of a villa belonging to the Secretary of the Grand Council Zhu Geng of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The residence has five rows of houses: the vestibule, Qiu's living quarters and three others where her mother and brothers lived. Qiu once received comrades in her chambers to secretly discuss the uprising. In the back wall of the living room is a secret chamber where arms and confidential documents were kept. The residence, which has been renovated many times, includes an exhibition room commemorating Qiu's historic accomplishments.
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