Qiguang Park

Qiguang Park

Qiguang Park serves as a patriotic education base.

Qiguang Park faces south and is bordered by the Xuhui District Swimming Pool to the east, Nandan Road to the south, Hui Zhan Road to the west, and Xujiahui Catholic Church to the north. It covers an area of 13,200 square meters. Originally the burial site of Xu Guangqi, a renowned patriotic scientist of the late Ming Dynasty, the park was first established in the 14th year of the Chongzhen reign (1641). The cemetery originally spanned 13,300 square meters and included ten tombs— the main tomb housing Xu Guangqi and his wife Lady Wu, with the surrounding tombs accommodating his four grandsons and their wives. The site once featured stone sheep, stone horses, ornamental columns, and a memorial archway, most of which had deteriorated by the end of the 19th century. By then, the cemetery had been reduced to just 12,000 square meters. In the 29th year of the Guangxu reign (1903), to commemorate the 270th anniversary of Xu Guangqi’s death, the site was renovated, with the stone animals, columns, and archway restored, and a large cross erected in front of the tomb, alongside a stone tablet marking the restoration. In the 22nd year of the Republic of China (1933), for the 300th anniversary of Xu’s passing, iron railings were added around the cross, terrazzo railings enclosed the tomb area, and cement pathways were built. After the Japanese occupation of Shanghai in 1937, the cemetery fell into disrepair; the original stone figures and structures were damaged and have since remained incomplete.

In 1957, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture allocated funds for restoration and designated the site as a Shanghai Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit. During the Cultural Revolution, part of the site was occupied and the remaining stone relics were further damaged. In 1978, the Shanghai Revolutionary Committee reclaimed the occupied areas, funded renovations, and converted the site into a public park, which opened on May 1st of that year under the name Nandan Park. In 1981, Xu Guangqi’s tomb was reconstructed into a large elliptical tomb in the Ming style. In November 1983, to mark the 350th anniversary of Xu’s death, Nandan Park was renamed Qiguang Park in his honor. On January 13, 1988, it was listed as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council. Major Attractions (Areas)

Qiguang Park is a commemorative park. The northern section is the tomb area, the eastern part serves as a leisure zone, and the western section is designated for youth activities. The park features distinctive Dutch-style umbrella pavilions and waterside pavilions. A bust of Xu Guangqi stands in front of the tomb, with an inscribed stone corridor of Xu’s writings on the left. The tomb area is surrounded by evergreen pines and cypresses. The entire park is dotted with winding paths, lush trees, koi ponds, and green lawns. It is clean, quiet, and a serene urban retreat. The surroundings are planted with resilient evergreens such as metasequoia, oleander, privet, and black pine. Along paths, ponds, and near the tomb are dense plantings of podocarpus, dragon juniper, metasequoia, ginkgo, and camphor trees, interspersed with flowering trees and shrubs such as magnolia, silk tree, and wintersweet to enrich seasonal views and enhance the landscape. Nearly 100 tree species are found throughout the park, with seasonal flowers rotated throughout the year.

Xu Guangqi’s Tomb: Located in the northern part of the park, the tomb is elliptical in shape, standing 2.2 meters high and encased in granite. The top is covered with green grass. In front of the tomb are planted large camphor trees, dragon junipers, cedars, and oleanders, while a forest of metasequoias stands behind. A tombstone inscribed with the five Chinese characters “明徐光启墓” (Tomb of Ming Dynasty’s Xu Guangqi), written by Su Buqing, is erected at the front. Stone benches are placed on both sides, and a Qing Dynasty stone horse is preserved on the right.

Transportation

Bus routes 732, 920, 205, 830, etc.

Admission

Free

Opening Hours

05:00–18:00

Location

No. 17 Nandan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai

Xu Guangqi (April 24, 1562 – November 10, 1633) was a scientist, agronomist, and statesman of late Ming Dynasty China, and one of the pioneers in East-West cultural exchange. His courtesy name was Zixian and literary name Xuanhu; his baptismal name was Paul. An ethnic Han from Huating County, Songjiang Prefecture, Nanzhili (modern-day Shanghai), he was a Catholic and honored as the foremost of the “Three Pillars of Catholicism.” He passed the imperial examination in the 32nd year of the Wanli reign (1604). Proficient in astronomy and calendrical science, he also studied firearms. After converting to Catholicism, he engaged in scholarly discussions with the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci. In the 40th year of Wanli, he served as an official compiling the calendar and collaborated with the missionary Sabatino de Ursis to develop instruments such as celestial and terrestrial globes for astronomical observation... More details on Xu Guangqi ++