Guo Moruo (1892-1978) was considered to be one of China's most revolutionary writers. In 1927 he wrote a less than complimentary article about Chang Kaishek making him an enemy of the Guomindang. He left China to study Chinese history in Japan. When Japan invaded China, he returned to China and participated in anti-Japanese activities. He held several political positions after the founding of the People's Republic in 1949. His works have been published in several languages.

Originally from Sichuan, after 1949 he spent most of his time in Beijing at this house.