Thatched Cottage of Du Fu is an idyllic 24-acre (97,000 Squre Meter) park and museum in honour of the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu at the western outskirts of Chengdu, adjacent to the Huanhua Xi, (Flower Rinsing Creek). In 1961, the Chinese government established Du Fu Cao Tang as a National Heritage site.
History
In 759 Du Fu moved to Chengdu, built a thatched hut near the Flower Rinsing Creek and lived there for four years. The 'thatched hut' period was the peak of Du Fu's creativity. He wrote two hundred and forty poems, among them: 'My Thatched Hut was torn apart by Autumn Wind' and 'The Prime Minister of Shu'.
Thatched Cottage of Du Fu is now a popular destination for Du Fu enthusiasts around the world to pay tribute to the great poet.
Dufu Thatched Cottage Museum
The original thatched hut built by Du Fu was destroyed. The key buildings in the Du Fu Cao Tang Park were constructed in the early 16th century during the Ming dynasty and extensively renovated in 1811 during the Qing dynasty.
Thatched Cottage of Du Fu consists of several main areas:
Du Gong Bu memorial Hall (Du Gongbu ci), where the life and work of Du Fu was displayed, the library area displayed published works of Du Fu, including some rare Song dynasty wood carving editions. The foreign language section displays a large number of foreign language books of Du Fu's works.
The Thatched Cottage of Du Fu. A reconstructed thatched hut partitioned into a study, a bedroom and kitchen, recreated the living and working environment of Du Fu's time.
The Hall of great poets (Da Ya Tang). A new exhibition hall where a 16 long by 4 meter tall mural painting portraying scenes from Du Fu's poems: 'My Thatched Hut Wrecked by the Autumn Wind' and 'A Song of War Chariots'. There are also statues of twelve prominent Chinese poets (including Qu Yuan, Tao Qian, Li Bai, Wang Wei, Su Shi, Li Qingzhao, Lu You) on display.
