The Former Republican Legation Buildings Complex

The Former Republican Legation Buildings Complex

The Former Republican Legation Buildings Complex is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Former Republican Legation Buildings Complex

The Yihe Road Historical and Cultural District in Gulou District is the largest complex of former residences of high-ranking officials and celebrities from the Republican era in Nanjing and even across China. It was once a residential area for the upper echelons of the Republican government and remains to this day one of Nanjing’s most well-preserved upscale residential areas featuring characteristics of the Republican period. Covering a total area of approximately 378,000 square meters, the district has a total road length of 6,400 meters and houses 225 former residences of notable figures. It was once home to many influential historical personalities such as Wang Jingwei, Jiang Weiguo, Chen Bulei, Yu Youren, Chen Cheng, Tang Enbo, Gu Zhutong, Yan Xishan, and George Marshall. Every word and action of these former residents resonated throughout the nation, and their stories continue to be the stuff of endless legend. Each luxurious building here is like a silent book, a tangible painting, or a philosophical poem, reflecting the transitions and transformations of the era and echoing the traces of a century of dramatic change. These clusters of Western-style buildings incorporate the essence of architectural art from around the world and can be described as a modern expo of global architecture, truly a treasure of modern Chinese architecture.

The Yihe Road district is divided into 12 plots. Currently, Gulou District is carrying out refined and exemplary preservation and development on Plot 12 of Yihe Road, aiming to turn it into an iconic landmark not only for Nanjing but also for the whole country. A new district where history meets fashion, and culture blends with economy, will gradually take shape here.

Recommended Route: Former Villa of the Jincheng Bank, U.S. President’s Special Envoy and former Secretary of State George Marshall’s Residence (No. 5 Ninghai Road) --- Former Swiss Legation --- Former Residence of Huang Renlin, General Secretary of the Jili Society (No. 15 Ninghai Road) --- Former Residence of Chen Bulei, National Policy Advisor of the Nationalist Government (No. 15 Jiangsu Road) --- Former Residence of General Xue Yue, First-Class Army General (No. 23 Jiangsu Road) --- Former Residence of Xiong Bin, Vice Minister of the Army Department (No. 29 Jiangsu Road)