The Former Residences of Celebrities on Yihe Road in Nanjing

The Yihe Road Former Residences Area in Nanjing

The Yihe Road Former Residences Area in Nanjing is located within Gulou District. It was a high-end residential district built in the 1930s by the Republican government for government officials. Many mansions and residences of key political figures from that era are found here. Due to the concentration of official residences and its beautiful environment and convenient transportation, the area also became a location where many foreign embassies and consulates were established.

According to statistics, there are 18 notable residences in the Yihe Road Former Residences Area, including those of famous figures such as Jiang Weiguo, George Marshall, Chen Cheng, Gu Zhutong, Tang Enbo, Yan Xishan, Ma Hongkui, Wang Jingwei, Hang Liwu, Zou Lu, Xue Yue, Hu Lian, Zhou Zhirou, and Niu Yongjian. There are also 8 foreign embassies and consulates, including those of Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Portugal, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. These historic residences and diplomatic buildings feature diverse architectural styles—some are luxurious, others simple; some refined, others rugged—each with its own story, recording the changes of history.

In accordance with the conservation plan for the Former Residences Area, these celebrity residences and embassies/consulates will be preserved and protected as required, with selected ones nominated as provincial or municipal cultural heritage sites. Protecting these original residences and diplomatic buildings, along with preserving the historical ambiance of the area, undoubtedly plays a positive and significant role in studying the politics, history, culture, and technology of the Republican era, as well as promoting cross-strait communication and maintaining peaceful reunification.

In recent years, to support economic development and expand tourism, Nanjing has renovated a concentrated cluster of former Republican-era residences known as the Yihe Road Twelve Blocks. After renovation, it will become a high-end office building complex and will be presented to the public as an area showcasing Republican-era architectural features. The main architectural styles of the Republican residences include two categories: traditional Chinese buildings with Western elements featuring grey bricks and black tiles, and purely European-style buildings. The overall color scheme consists mainly of grey tones and red roofs with yellow walls. Compared to modern architecture, Republican-era buildings appear more modest and simple, yet their interiors are often exquisitely, even luxuriously, designed.

Location: Yihe Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province

Transportation: Take bus 318 and get off at Yihe Road Station; or take buses 3, 42, 78, etc., and get off at Mogan Road Station.

Address: Yihe Road, Gulou District, Nanjing

Type: Featured Neighborhood

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Ticket Information:

No admission fee.