Ji Xiaolan was a jinshi (a title given to someone who passed the highest imperial examination of many imperial dynasties of China) during the Qianlong reign (1736–1796) of the Qing Dynasty. He served as the chief editor of more than 36,000 volumes of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries (四库全书), a monumental collection of books. Ji was also the author of the Notes from the Yuewei Cottage (阅微草堂笔记).

The former residence faces south and consists of two connected courtyards. The front courtyard includes the main gate, main rooms and some south-facing rooms. It is home to Beijing's oldest Chinese wisteria, which dates back over 200 years and is said to have been personally planted by Ji himself. The main hall in the rear courtyard is the famous Yuewei Cottage. A Chinese crabapple tree also stands in this courtyard, where the legend says that it was also planted by Ji himself.

Address: 241 Zhushikou West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing

(Source: Xicheng District People's Government of Beijing Municipality)