Zhou Enlai was originally from Shaoxing and was born in Huai'an. But now many experts have put forward a lot of new evidence, indicating that Zhou Enlai was born in Shaoxing and Huai'an, Jiangsu Province, where he grew up. This may be a historical mystery. According to currently known information, Zhou Enlai devoted his life to China's revolution and construction. The only time he returned to Shaoxing was from March 28 to 31, 1939. At that time, Zhou Enlai came to Shaoxing as deputy minister of the Political Department of the Military Commission of the Nationalist Government to promote anti-Japanese resistance and engage in revolutionary activities. At the same time, Zhou Enlai, accompanied by his relatives, visited the tombs of his ancestors, filled in his own and Deng Yingchao's names on the genealogy, and left many inscriptions and photos, which fully demonstrated his love for the people of his hometown. A deep feeling. This very vivid and meaningful event is displayed in the exhibition hall of Zhou Enlai’s life and deeds. Among them, the small house of less than 10 square meters on the left side of the patio in front of the inscription hall is the place where Zhou Enlai rested when he arrived in Shaoxing in 1939.
The ancestral home of Zhou Enlai, the "Centenary Hall", is located on today's Labor Road in Shaoxing, formerly known as Baoyou Bridge, along the riverside and at the head of the wooden bridge. Browsing the Baziqiao neighborhood, Zhou Enlai’s ancestral home is not far away. Go west along Changqiao Straight Street, cross Zhongxing Road, and soon after entering Labor Road, you will see the ancestral residence of Zhou Enlai. If you take the bus and get off at Jiefang Road City Square Station, you should first visit Zhou Enlai’s ancestral home and then visit the Baziqiao neighborhood.
The ancestral home is a brick house facing south and has the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty. The five characters "Zhou Enlai's Ancestral Residence" above the gate of the ancestral residence were written by Comrade Chen Yun. The original name of the ancestral residence was "Xiyang Hall". It was renamed "Centenary Hall" because one of Zhou Enlai's ancestors, Wang, lived to be 100 years old, and the governor of Zhejiang awarded the plaque "100-year-old mother". The ancestral house has been repaired several times, but the style and structure have basically remained original. Zhou Enlai's ancestors lived here for generations until his grandfather became an official in Jiangsu and then moved to Huai'an.
Zhou Enlai’s ancestral residence has three entrances. Each entrance is separated by a patio and connected by stone corridors on both sides. The overall structure is regular, the style is solemn and simple, and it has strong local characteristics of Shaoxing. Due to disrepair, the Centennial Hall was once damaged. After 1949, the government and the people repeatedly requested repairs and renovations, but were dissuaded by Comrade Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao. After minor renovations in the late 1950s, the ancestral home was handed over to the state at the request of Zhou Enlai. In the 1980s, the local government carried out a comprehensive renovation of the Centennial Hall and basically restored it to its original appearance. In 1998, in order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Zhou Enlai's birth, it was renovated again and the Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall was expanded. Later, the Zhou Enlai Memorial Square was added.