Xu Beihong (1895 to 1953) wasborn in Yixing: a Wuxi district. He was a painter, specializing in Chinese ink painting depictions of horses and birds. He is considered a modern master in China, where his amalgamation of traditional Chinese style and Western techniques was revolutionary.
The Xu Beihong Memorial Hall opened in Wuxi in 1988, to house a collection of his works and tell the story of his life.