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Former Site of the Rong Family’s Ancestral Home

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The former site of the Rong Family’s Ancestral Home is located at No. 186 North Shaanxi Road. Built in 1918, it is an independent garden-style villa with carvings adorning nearly every part of its interior decoration. After the original German owner returned to his home country following Germany’s defeat in World War I, the property was purchased by the renowned industrialist Mr. Rong Zongjing. Mr. Rong Zongjing and his brother Rong Desheng were the “King of Cotton Yarn” and “King of Flour” during the Republican era, having established several enterprises in total and were regarded as China’s largest capitalists. After 1949, the site served for many years as the office of democratic parties, and after the reform and opening-up period, it came under the management of Jiushi Group.

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The former site of the Rong Family’s Ancestral Home is a protected cultural heritage site of Shanghai.

The former site of the Rong Family’s Ancestral Home is located at No. 186 North Shaanxi Road and was built in 1918. It is an independent garden-style villa with carvings featured throughout its interior decoration. After the original German owner returned to his home country following Germany’s defeat in World War I, the property was purchased by the renowned industrialist Mr. Rong Zongjing. Mr. Rong Zongjing and his brother Rong Desheng were the “King of Cotton Yarn” and “King of Flour” during the Republican era, having founded several enterprises between them and were hailed as China’s largest capitalists. After 1949, the site long served as the office of democratic parties, and after the reform and opening-up period, it came under the operation of the Jiushi Group.

Designed by Chen Chuanjiang, the building features a reinforced concrete structure and an eclectic architectural style. Its forms are richly varied, with the main façade showcasing a two-story colonnaded veranda that reflects characteristics of French classicism. The floor plan is complex, and the interior is exquisitely decorated with details such as flooring, woodwork, and stained glass. Due to the expansion of the Rong family and the growth of their business ventures, family members gradually left the ancestral home to live in other residences, leaving the property vacant for several years.

The former site of the Rong Family’s Ancestral Home was designated as a district-level protected cultural heritage site in 2006 and upgraded to a municipal-level protected cultural heritage site in 2014.