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Front Zhaojialou Lane
Zhaojialou gained notoriety during the May 4th Movement
for the slogan "Raze Zhaojialou." This refers to the residence of Cao
Rulin at 3 Front Zhaojialou Lane in the East City District. Cao Rulin
was vice–minister of Foreign Affairs of the Northern Government, and
an important member of the pro–Japanese clique. In 1915, he took Yuan
Shikai’s orders and signed the infamous "21 Demands" treaty with
Japan. Front Zhaojialou Lane at that time was close to
the eastern part of the city wall. Cao Rulin's residence was a
traditional Beijing–style four–sided compound, enclosed on all sides
by a wall. On May 4, 1919, patriotic students attacked the Cao
residence. The roof tiles were first knocked off with bamboo poles.
The students then crawled through the front windows, as the heavy
front door was locked with an iron bolt. There are now
11 households on Front Zhaojialou Lane. The original Cao residence is
gone, replaced by two four–and five–story buildings of a guesthouse. |
