Rong Desheng’s Tomb

Rong Desheng’s Tomb

Rong Desheng’s Tomb is a cultural relic protection unit of Wuxi City.

Rong Zongquan, courtesy name Desheng, was a native of Rongmu Town in the suburbs of Wuxi and a renowned industrialist in modern China. In his early years, he worked in the banking business. Starting in 1901, he and his elder brother Rong Zongjing established the Baohsing (Maohsing), Fuxing flour mills and Shenxin textile mills in Wuxi, Shanghai, Hankou, and other locations. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served successively as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a member of the East China Military and Political Committee, and vice-chairman of the Administrative Office of Southern Jiangsu.

Rong Desheng’s Tomb is located in Kongshanli, west of Meiyuan Orchard in the western suburbs of Wuxi. The tomb mound backs onto Kong Mountain and faces Meiyuan, covering an area of 115.6 square meters. It has a flat brick-paved floor, surrounded by a brick wall with a stone foundation sealed with cement. The new walls on both sides are 1.4 meters high, while the back wall is 1.9 meters high. The tomb mound has a diameter of 2.5 meters. In front of the mound is a granite altar. The tombstone stands 1.2 meters high, 0.5 meters wide, and 0.17 meters thick, inscribed with “Tomb of Mr. Rong Desheng.” On the right is engraved “Spring 1953,” and on the left “Respectfully inscribed by Anji Wu Dongmai.” During the Cultural Revolution, the tomb was damaged. It was restored in July 1984, with the new tomb designed in the same style as the original. The new tomb houses a copy of "Le Nong Self-Recorded Chronological Events," a portrait of Rong Desheng with an inscription by Zhang Daqian reading “Centennial Memorial to Mr. Rong Zongquan,” signed “Zhang Ran Daqian respectfully inscribed, September of the Jiayin Year.” A new stele written by Liu Haisu stands in front of the tomb mound, while the original stele is located behind it.