A group of elementary students listen to stories of author Xiao Hong in front of a statue of the writer in her former residence on Monday, December 10, 2007.

Former residence of Xiao Hong, one of the most renowned writers in China during the 1930s, opened to the public on Monday in the author's hometown of Hulan county in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The renovated residence, together with a newly constructed memorial hall and a museum, covers an area of about 13 thousand square meters. The residence welcomed its first group of young visitors on Monday.

Standing at the entrance of the residence is a repaired statue of the female writer. The white stutue sits on a two-layered base, which symbolizes Xiao's two master works, "Tales of Hulan River" and "The Field of Life and Death". The two novels were prefaced by both Lu Xun and Mao Dun, founding fathers of modern Chinese literature.

Born on June 2, 1911 into a richer family with the given name Zhang Naiying, Xiao led an itinerant life during her short yet prolific years. She published her books and articles under her pseudonym Xiao Hong. Xiao died in Hong Kong in 1942 at the age of 31.

(CRI December 12, 2007)