Former Site of the International Fellowship Society

Former Site of the International Fellowship Society

The former site of the International Fellowship Society is a protected cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province.

The former site of the International Fellowship Society is located at No. 259 Zhongshan North Road, Gulou District, Nanjing (formerly No. 671 Zhongshan North Road).

Also known as the International Fellowship Association, it was established in 1929 (the 18th year of the Republic of China) as an organization aimed at fostering international goodwill under the Republic of China, and was affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nationalist Government. Its original location was near General Temple at Sanpailou.

In June 1935 (the 24th year of the Republic of China), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a formal request to the Nationalist Government for funding to purchase approximately 11,365 square meters of land along the street near Sanbu Liangqiao (No. 671 Zhongshan North Road) for the construction of office buildings for the International Fellowship Society.

The building project was designed by Liang Yan of the Kwan, Chu and Yang Engineering Company and constructed by the Yuxin Construction Company. It was completed in 1936 (the 25th year of the Republic of China), with a total floor area of 4,029 square meters. In 1946 (the 35th year of the Republic of China), the building project was further expanded: Yang Tingbao of the Kwan, Chu and Yang Engineering Company designed an additional two-story building, along with interior renovations for the existing restaurant and guest rooms. This expansion added 1,100 square meters of new floor area, and construction was completed in August 1947 (the 36th year of the Republic of China).

The architectural design of the main building of the International Fellowship Society adopted a Western modernist style. The structure is reinforced concrete, with three floors. The entrance façade is semi-circular, and the central projecting section features framework columns and arched steel windows to enhance the visual impact. The lobby area uses innovative decorative materials, with the door frame clad in polished black Qingdao marble. The walls are characterized by horizontal lines such as cornices and window sills, resulting in a clean, orderly, and well-proportioned façade. The interior is luxuriously decorated, while the exterior is uniquely distinctive, making it one of the most notable buildings in Nanjing at the time.

In 1992, the former site of the International Fellowship Society was designated as a protected cultural heritage site of Nanjing City, and it is now a provincial-level protected cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Jiangsu Province