The Former Residence of Peter Goullart in Lijiang
Chinese Name:顾彼得旧居
Chinese ADD:丽江市狮子山西路义正办事处金甲村38号
Address: No. 38, Jinjia Village, Yizheng Office, Xilu, Lion Mountain, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, China
Peter Goullart’s former residence is a traditional Lijiang house where the Russian writer Peter Goullart lived, worked, and spent his time while residing in the ancient town of Lijiang. The residence was restored to its original state in 2016, and the renovation project has now been completed, with the house officially open to the public.
Development History
Located on the western slopes of Lion Mountain, Peter Goullart’s former residence is a two-story building designed in the traditional Lijiang style, known as Qixia building style. The house features a double-eaved gable roof, faces north while sitting south, and has a width of 9.3 meters and a depth of 5.3 meters. The original structure was a courtyard with three separate areas: the main courtyard, living courtyard, and study courtyard. Only the building where Peter Goullart lived remains.
Following its restoration, the residence now features grey brick walls and doors and windows painted with red lacquer, giving it a fresh new appearance. The ground floor is furnished with old tables, chairs, benches, and relevant books, alongside some displays introducing Peter Goullart’s life. The upper floor was Goullart’s personal living space, which has been preserved to reflect its original state, with old cabinets, leather trunks, lanterns, and wooden floors still emanating the atmosphere of past decades.
Peter Goullart was born in 1901 into an aristocratic family in Moscow and passed away in 1978 in Singapore, having never married. He arrived in Lijiang in 1941 and lived there for nine years until 1949. His time in Lijiang was one of the most cherished periods of his life, inspiring him to write the book “Forgotten Kingdom,” which is one of the most famous works about understanding Lijiang.
According to He Hongyang, the deputy director of the Ancient Town Protection and Management Bureau, the restoration of Peter Goullart’s former residence followed a “restore the old as the old” approach. Based on various historical sources, a conservation-oriented restoration method was used, focusing on roof renovation and the overall preservation of the well-maintained north-facing two-story building where Goullart lived. The renovation project commenced in November 2014, and the restoration has now been completed, with the house officially open to the public.
About Peter Goullart
Peter Goullart was born in 1901 into an aristocratic family in Russia. In 1942, he was commissioned by Soong Ching-ling and his New Zealand friend Rewi Alley to come to Lijiang, where he established the Lijiang Office of the Chinese Industrial Cooperatives.
His book “Forgotten Kingdom” is a captivating read that transports you to the old streets and alleys of Lijiang from 1941 to 1949, offering a glimpse into the Naxi ethnic culture. The book captures the beautiful memories of a Russian writer’s life in Lijiang.
About Peter Goullart
Peter Goullart (Russian: Пётр Гуляр) (1901 – June 5, 1978) was a Russian-born traveler, explorer, and author renowned for his vivid accounts of the lifestyles and customs of various peoples in remote parts of East and Southeast Asia.
Life and Career
Early Life: Peter Goullart was born in 1901 in Russia into a well-educated family. He spent his early years in Moscow and Paris, with a deep fascination for the Orient.
Move to China: Following the Bolshevik Revolution, Goullart fled to China, settling in Shanghai in 1924. He mastered the Chinese language and began working as a tour guide, leading Western tourists and businesspeople across East and Southeast Asia. During this time, Goullart developed a profound interest in Daoism and the remote mountainous regions of Western China.
Life in Lijiang: In 1939, after the Japanese invasion of China, Goullart secured a position with the Chinese Industrial Cooperatives, an agency of the Kuomintang government. Initially stationed in what is now western Sichuan, he moved in 1942 to the ancient city of Lijiang in northwestern Yunnan Province. Goullart spent over eight years in Lijiang, during which time he documented the culture and life of the region’s people, particularly the Naxi ethnic group. His experiences in Lijiang during World War II, when the city was a key transit point for the trade and supply route from India to China, inspired his renowned book, “Forgotten Kingdom.”
Post-China Years: In 1949, following the communist takeover, Goullart left Lijiang for Kunming on a chartered flight with botanist and explorer Joseph Rock. He then moved to Singapore, where he continued writing about his travels across Southeast Asia. His books, written in English, provided readers with rich insights into his adventures and the cultures he encountered.
Death: Peter Goullart passed away on June 5, 1978, in Singapore, at the home of his friend Desmond Neill.
