Pan Mingxun’s Residence

Pan Mingxun’s Residence

Pan Mingxun’s Residence is a cultural tourism attraction.

Located in the middle section of Buxi Road in the former French Concession of Shanghai, now at 680 Changle Road, this is a magnificent and sizable garden residence. After the liberation, the owner donated the Changle Road property to the state, where it was part of the Shanghai Post and Telecommunications Workers' Hospital and has since been converted into the Sino-Japanese joint venture Shanghai Houcheng Stomatological Hospital.

This is a neoclassical-style garden villa, or rather a building in the neoclassical architectural style. Neoclassical architecture emerged as people, enamored with the grandeur of ancient Greek and Roman architecture, broke free from dogmatic imitation and embraced functionality, nature, and authenticity. Pan Mingxun’s Residence was built in the late 1920s. The three-story building faces south and features a brick-concrete structure. It has a sloped roof with red tiles, partial large-scale parapets, cement balustrades resembling vases, and the roof eaves are adorned with dense decorative patterns, subtly reflecting the tastes of its former owner. The southern façade is divided into three sections, with a symmetrical layout along the central axis. The vertical lines emphasized in the center contrast with the horizontal composition on both sides, resulting in a simple and unadorned exterior. The flat eaves are complemented by multiple tall windows on the façade, topped with flat arches. The ground floor is clad in beige polished granite, while the second and third floors are finished with cement plaster. The central part of the ground floor features an Ionic arcade with columns, and the main entrance and its top showcase Art Deco elements. The entrance porch is crowned with a triangular pediment. In front of the courtyard, there is a double-flight outdoor marble staircase leading up to the second-floor living room entrance platform from both sides. The overall appearance is dignified and imposing.

Over 80 years ago, its owner was the renowned Pan Mingxun, head of the Shanghai Municipal Council and a native of Guangdong. This place was also a “stronghold” in China’s book-collecting circle—the luxurious mansion known as “Baoli Hall,” which housed over 100 ancient Song and Yuan dynasty editions.

The first owner of Baoli Hall was Pan Zongzhou (1867–1939), also known as Mingxun, a native of Nanhai, Guangdong. He came to Shanghai in 1919 to work in business, initially as a runner for foreign firms. Thanks to his sharp wit and capability, coupled with his proficiency in pidgin English, he soon became a comprador and later served as head of the Shanghai Municipal Council. During his 20 years in Shanghai, he developed a passion for book collecting, particularly favoring ancient Song and Yuan editions, while generally disregarding Ming and Qing imprints. Whenever he encountered a rare edition, he spared no expense. Booksellers on Fuzhou Road, aware of his preferences, often wrapped old books and visited him for sales. Backed by wealth and foreign support, he was not easily deceived by booksellers. Within a few years, he became one of the foremost collectors of Song dynasty editions in China.

His collection was appraised by China’s top bibliographers Xu Senyu and Zhang Yuanji. The crown jewel of his collection was the Song edition of the “Commentary on the Book of Rites” (禮記正義), acquired from Yuan Keding’s second son, Yuan Kewen (also known as Han Yun). This book was originally published by Huang Tang of San Shan after the Southern Song court fled south, and it was once kept in the secret chambers of the Confucius Mansion in Qufu, Shandong—a unique volume considered a treasured heirloom of the mansion. Somehow, it ended up in Yuan Kewen’s hands. Yuan, who fancied himself among the “top two scholars,” also enjoyed book collecting and calligraphy, referring to himself as the “Later Owner of a Hundred Song Editions.” He often inscribed poems and notes on rare books, stamping them with his red seal “Later Second Son” to mark his ownership. The poem inscribed on the “Commentary on the Book of Rites” was written for a girlfriend, expressing genuine emotion and sorrowful, touching verses—possibly composed upon their separation. After Yuan Keding’s death, the extravagant Yuan Kewen fell into financial hardship and resorted to selling antiques. One day, he brought the “Commentary on the Book of Rites” to the Pan residence and hinted at selling it. Pan Zongzhou, delighted by the book, purchased it for 100,000 taels of silver. With the new Changle Road residence recently completed, he named his home “Baoli Hall,” giving rise to its name. Pan then invited the renowned Jiangnan book collector Dong Kang (aka Songfen) to oversee the engraving of the text, printing 100 copies, thus transforming a single volume into many and making long-hidden manuscripts accessible to scholars—earning widespread acclaim. From then on, six or seven out of ten Song and Yuan rare editions, unique copies, or fine editions from Yuan Kewen’s collection continuously flowed into Baoli Hall.

Before the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, the Shanghai Concession became an isolated enclave. By then, Pan Zongzhou had passed away, and his son, Pan Shizi, inherited the 111 Song and Yuan editions housed in Baoli Hall. Pan had studied in the United States and later returned to teach at St. John’s University in Shanghai. Fearing the national treasures would fall into Japanese hands, he contacted the Royal Asiatic Society in Shanghai, asking for help relocating the books to safety. Some British personnel were well-versed in Chinese culture and recognized the historical and cultural value of the collection. They arranged for a British warship to transport the books to Hong Kong, where they were then taken by car directly to the vault of HSBC. The transfer was handled with great care and precision. However, the books remained stored there for ten years. During that time, Americans and Japanese repeatedly attempted to purchase the collection at high prices. American collector Hussey was especially active, traveling frequently between Hong Kong and the U.S., seeking collections from families that had fled the mainland. Yet, Pan Shizi remained unmoved, preferring to pay the high HSBC vault fees until the liberation of China.

Pan Mingxun’s close friend, Chen Qinghua (1894–1978), was another major book collector in Shanghai. A native of Hunan and styled Chengzhong, he served as the chief auditor of the Bank of China and shared a passion for collecting Song and Yuan editions. Having acquired a Song edition of the “Xunzi,” he named his residence “Xunzhai.” One day, Chen visited Baoli Hall. Within moments of arriving, he asked Pan what new books he had acquired. Pan then took out a newly obtained copy of the “Collected Works of Master Changli” (昌黎先生集, commonly known as Han Wen) from a box to show him. Chen was deeply moved, as he owned a Song edition of the “Collected Works of Liu Zongyuan” (柳河东集, known as Liu Wen), also published by Huang Tang of San Shan in the Southern Song and a unique surviving volume. Chen remarked, “People often speak of Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan together, so their collected works should naturally be kept together. If they’re separated, wouldn’t that be a pity? I propose we trade—one at twenty thousand silver dollars each. Either you take Han Wen, or I’ll take Liu Wen.” Pan deliberated at length, agreeing with Chen but unable to afford Liu Wen due to the cost of building his new residence. He sighed, “I’m financially strained at present and can’t afford Liu Wen. Since you suggest this and we’re friends, please take Han Wen.” And so, the rare Song edition of the “Collected Works of Master Changli” left Baoli Hall for “Xunzhai.”

On the eve of the liberation, Chen Qinghua’s family moved to Hong Kong, taking dozens of rare books with them, including the Han Wen volume. It wasn’t until 1965 that Chen decided to sell his collection, which included numerous precious Song rubbings. Later, Xu Bojiao, son of Xu Senyu, facilitated the purchase on behalf of the state, bringing these treasures into the National Library in Beijing. Premier Zhou Enlai even took personal interest in the matter, highlighting its significance. After Chen left Shanghai, his remaining collection was kept by his daughter Chen Guoying and her husband Liu Ji’ao (a professor at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics), also including Song and Yuan editions. These were confiscated during the Cultural Revolution but returned in 1980, when they were donated to the state and are now housed in the Shanghai Library.

In 1951, Pan Shizi wrote to Zheng Zhenduo, director of the National Cultural Relics Bureau, offering to donate the entire Baoli Hall collection to the newly established People’s Republic of China and noting the lack of experts to assist with the process. Zheng, an avid enthusiast of cultural relics, was thrilled by the letter. At the time, the government was aware of the many relics stranded in Hong Kong, at risk of being lost overseas, and had decided to allocate funds to acquire them. Premier Zhou instructed: “Only acquire relics of historical value, not antiques.” Coincidentally, Xu Bojiao came from Hong Kong to Beijing. Working at a bank in Hong Kong and being a well-known collector and connoisseur of antiquities, Xu was familiar with many collectors. Thus, the government entrusted him with contacting Pan Shizi in Hong Kong and handling the donation of the Baoli Hall collection. Through Xu’s efforts, the precious collection arrived safely in Shanghai, including 104 Song editions and 7 Yuan editions. A special train was approved to transport them directly to Beijing, where they were added to the rare book collection at the National Library, significantly enriching its holdings. In 1958, when the library published its catalog of rare books, entries for the Baoli Hall donation were marked with “Pan Donated” to honor his contribution.

In the early years of liberation, Pan Shizi returned to Shanghai. After donating the books, he also gave the Baoli Hall residence to the state, which was repurposed as a post and telecommunications hospital. He lived in the ground floor of a garden house on Hunan Road. In his later years, Pan lived in solitude, as his wife and son had both gone abroad. After suffering a stroke, he relied entirely on a nanny for daily care. Despite this, he persevered and completed an English translation of the “Three Character Classic,” introducing China’s profound culture to the world. Published in Singapore, the book was designated by Lee Kuan Yew as required reading for Singaporean children and later recognized by UNESCO as essential reading for children’s moral development worldwide. In 1988, his name was included in the American edition of the “Who’s Who in the World.”

Pan Zongzhou (1867–1939), a renowned modern book collector. Styled Mingxun. Native of Shayang, Nanhai, Guangdong.

In his youth, he worked for foreign firms in Shanghai, becoming a wealthy businessman and serving as head of the Shanghai Municipal Council during the Republican era. He specialized in collecting Song editions, amassing over 100 high-quality ancient Song and Yuan volumes. Among his first acquisitions were two rare Song editions from the Republican-era collector Yuan Kewen: the “Commentary on the Book of Rites” and the “Gongyang Commentary with Explanations.” The 70-volume, 40-fascicle “Commentary on the Book of Rites” is hailed as the “finest unique volume in China” and a masterpiece among Song editions... [More details on Pan Zongzhou]

Pan Shizi, a modern book collector and scholar. Son of the famous collector Pan Zongzhou, native of Nanhai, Guangdong.

Joined the China Democratic League in 1950. Earned a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge in 1939. Served as head of the Department of History and Politics, academic dean, and acting president at St. John’s University. After 1949, he was a professor in the Foreign Languages Department and librarian at Fudan University. Wrongly labeled a rightist in 1957 and imprisoned for seven years during the Cultural Revolution. After his father’s death in 1939, he inherited the full collection, including over 110 Song and Yuan editions totaling 1,088 volumes... [More details on Pan Shizi]