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A Bit More on Chaonei No. 81

Posted: July 24th, 2014 | 1 Comment »

I’ve blogged repeatedly over the years (since 2008 I just realised) about Beijing’s Chaonei No. 81 (here, here, and here) which has acquired something of a reputation as a haunted house. Of course, unless you are a complete idiot who believes fairies leave money under your pillow when teeth fall out, blokes in red come down chimneys with presents and that there’s an old man with a big beard who lives in the sky, you’ll realise it’s just an old house that has somehow managed to avoid destruction (something of a miracle itself in modern Peking). Interestingly now, thanks to a film “Jingcheng No. 81” or, in English, “The House That Never Dies” apparently (haven’t seen it, don’t know if it’s any good I’m afraid – there’s a trailer here), according to Amy Qin in the New York Times young people are “swarming” to the place.

The_House_That_Never_Dies

It is of curse lovely that upwards of 500 people a day are visiting the house, and hopefully they’ll enjoy it, but there seems to be no resolution to what the owners, the Catholic Diocese of Peking, are intending to do with the building. The added interest in the property is not improving it – indeed it has been neglected for years and when I last saw it there was obvious signs of weather and rain related damage (and dumb stuff like windows left open during bad weather, missing roof tiles not replaced etc etc). Th Diocese says its renovation plans await approval – two things here: 1) what are these plans, what’s the budget, where are the funds coming from for renovation etc? – because, as we all know, renovation in Peking can mean a McDonald’s or a Starbucks or worse! all done with faux materials and workmanship and 2) we are all aware of the long game of architectural destruction in Peking (and across China) that lets planning and renovation applications run and run, never quite being approved until a) the place falls down or becomes so dilapidated it cannot be saved or b) a big property developer comes along with a suitcase of cash that appeals more than a sense of history to the local officials.

Anyway, the saga of Chaonei No. 81 continues….

81-chaonei-300x172

 


One Comment on “A Bit More on Chaonei No. 81”

  1. 1 Philippe said at 10:55 am on April 5th, 2017:

    Bonjour Mr French,

    As I was looking into the life of Georges Bouillard (the head of Kin-Han railway after Jadot’s departure) I discover articles about this house.
    According to Beijing historian Wang Leshun, Bouillard designed and had it constructed in 1922. He dies in Beijing in 1930.
    His wife Zhu Derong rented part of it to nuns, and sell it to an Irish priest in 1946.

    You get a “full” story in French here:
    http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/french/Societe/article/2015-07/03/content_694544.htm

    Cordialement


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