Former Site of He Yingqin’s Residence

Former Site of He Yingqin’s Residence

The former site of He Yingqin’s Residence is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

The residence of He Yingqin was originally built in 1934, designed by the renowned architect Shen Hefu and constructed by the Xinfengji Construction Company. It was a Western-style villa. In December 1937, it was destroyed in the war. In the autumn of 1945, after returning to Nanjing, He Yingqin had it rebuilt on the original site, and the reconstruction was completed in March of the following year. The rebuilt residence faces south and features a Spanish style, covering an area of 7,782 square meters with a construction area of 2,869 square meters. It includes three two-story buildings, one three-story building, seven four-story buildings, and some auxiliary single-story structures. Only one building remains today. This building faces south, has three stories, a sloped roof covered with blue glazed tiles, arched windows and doors, yellow brick walls, and a construction area of 869 square meters. It currently serves as the guest reception office for Nanjing University and is well preserved.

He Yingqin (1889–1987), courtesy name Jingzhi, was a native of Xingyi, Guizhou. He graduated from the Japanese Army Officer Academy and was a first-class general in the Kuomintang army. In 1924, he served as the chief instructor at the Whampoa Military Academy and participated in the establishment of the Nationalist army. In July 1935, he signed the He-Umezu Agreement with Japan, resulting in the loss of large areas of northern China to Japanese control. After the War of Resistance, he held positions such as Chief of the General Staff, Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Theater Army, and head of the Chinese delegation to the United Nations Military Staff Committee. In 1941, he conspired with Chiang Kai-shek in the Wanbei Incident. In 1945, he represented the Chinese government in accepting the Japanese surrender, supported Chiang Kai-shek in launching the civil war, and served as Minister of Defense under the Kuomintang regime. During Li Zongren's acting presidency, he was the Premier of the Executive Yuan. After going to Taiwan, he served as Chairman of the "President's Strategic Advisory Commission" among other roles. He passed away in Taipei in 1987 and authored the book "The Eight-Year War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression."

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangsu Province