Beijing Songtang Museum is China’s first traditional residential architecture museum. Started from almost half a century ago, Mr. Li Songtang, a reputed collector, has been collecting and preserving pieces and components of traditional architecture from all over the country. His collections can definitely make him one of the richest men in Beijing, but he never sold a single piece, even when the museum was hard to go on due to lack of fund. He opened his collection to the whole world 1 month before the 2008 Olympics. There’s absolutely no reason not to visit if you are visiting Beijing.
A stone incense stove near the entrance. Also note the sculpture at the background and the two stone piers on both sides of the gate. These are all common elements of traditional residential architecture.
During the time when traditional Siheyuans and Hutongs were being torned down to make room for modern corporate buildings, lots of the stone piers were bought by antique dealers for extremely cheap prices and were re-sold for 100 times profit at antiques markets.
A stone fish pond.
Delicate stone sculptures of fairies.
Various small stone sculptures from the roofs of traditonal buildings.
Delicate and sophiscated stone carving on the wall.
A small shop inside Mr. Li’s Siheyuan, selling traditional papercuts and other art works.
The back door of the “giving name” shop connects Mr. Li’s yard. The owner claimed he’s the best in the industry and tried to persuade everyone visiting the museum to have a chat with him.
Mr. Li Songtang undoubtedly has the finest and the most expensive residence in Beijing, if not the whole country. I left the museum without checking out the other collections inside the rooms due to lack of time. But I’ll definitely come again.
The museum is located near the entrance of Cheng Xian Street, just a few steps away from Lama Temple.
