Nanjing Shi Liangcai’s Former Residence

Nanjing Shi Liangcai’s Former Residence

Nanjing Shi Liangcai’s Former Residence is a cultural tourism attraction.

Nanjing Shi Liangcai’s Former Residence

Shi Liangcai, originally named Shi Jiaxiu, was born in 1880 in Yangbanqiao Village, Hushu Town. He was the former general manager of Shen Bao, a famous journalist and social activist. On the wall hangs a plaque erected in March 2000 by the former Jiangning County People's Government, inscribed with the five characters “Shi Liangcai’s Former Residence.” The residence displays exhibits on Shi Liangcai’s life and calligraphy inscriptions dedicated to him by political figures. Nanjing Shi Liangcai’s Former Residence is a single-story brick-and-tile house.

His family had been farmers for generations, but his father left home to run a pharmacy in Sijing Town, Songjiang County, while he stayed in his hometown with his mother. After losing his mother at age 8, he lived with his uncle and did not join his father in Sijing until he was 15. From a young age, Shi Liangcai studied diligently. In 1899, he passed the imperial examination for xiucai (a scholar at the county level), and in 1901, he enrolled in the Hangzhou Sericulture School. After graduation, he worked as a teacher. In 1904, he founded a sericulture school in Shanghai, which gained attention from the city’s business and academic circles. In 1905, he joined the Research Society organized by Shanghai’s academic community and co-founded the Jiangsu Education Association with Huang Yanpei and others. In 1907, he participated in the movement led by gentry and merchants in Jiangsu and Zhejiang to resist foreign loans and protect railway rights, and was elected as a director of the Jiangsu Railway Company. In 1912, he was appointed to oversee the Shanghai Customs Clearance Office and the Songjiang Salt Affairs Office.

In 1908, Shi Liangcai briefly served as the chief editor of the newspaper Shi Bao. In 1912, with funding from partners, he acquired Shen Bao, one of the earliest newspapers published in China, and was elected its general manager. From then on, driven by the ideal of saving the nation through journalism, he devoted himself to making Shen Bao a lifelong mission. Through careful management and bold reforms, he expanded the newspaper’s social influence. His reputation grew steadily, as did his wealth.

In 1931, through frequent interactions with figures such as Yang Xingfo and Tao Xingzhi, Shi Liangcai’s patriotic ideals were further strengthened. The Shen Bao he managed not only vigorously promoted resistance against Japan and opposition to appeasement, but also became a platform against civil war, opposing Chiang Kai-shek’s authoritarian rule and advocating for democracy. The Chiang Kai-shek government, seeking to control Shanghai’s media, tried to win over Shi Liangcai by offering him prestigious titles such as “Chairman of the Shanghai Provisional Council,” but he remained committed to justice and refused to be used.

Ultimately, in October 1934, Chiang Kai-shek ordered Dai Li to send agents to assassinate Shi Liangcai on October 13. During his lifetime, Shi Liangcai cared deeply about the development of his hometown and provided substantial support to its people. In 1907, he initiated the National Agricultural Association in Nanjing and was elected its general secretary. He also co-founded the Nantangshan Construction Company with Tao Baojin and others from Jiangning, raising funds to purchase land for afforestation, road construction, and spring digging. After gaining fame, he almost annually contributed money to help his hometown repair embankments, build bridges, provide disaster relief, and establish schools, bringing relief and aid to his fellow villagers.

Shi Liangcai (1880–1934), originally named Jiaxiu, was a native of Jiangning County. He was a newspaper industry capitalist.

In the 27th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1901), he enrolled in the Hangzhou Sericulture School. After graduation, he taught successively at Shanghai’s Wang Family Yucail School, the Ordnance School, Wuben Girls’ School, and Nanyang Middle School. In the 30th year of Guangxu, he founded the Shanghai Women’s Sericulture School, which drew attention from Shanghai’s business and academic communities. The following year, he participated in the - Research Society organized by Shanghai’s academic circles and co-founded the Jiangsu Education Association with Huang Yanpei and others.

In the 33rd year of Guangxu, he took part in the movement by gentry and merchants in Jiangsu and Zhejiang to resist foreign loans and protect railway rights, and was elected as a representative of Jiangsu... More detailed information about Shi Liangcai++

Longdu Community: Longdu Community is located in the southeastern part of Jiangning District. It is the hometown of Shi Liangcai, the “press magnate” of the Republican era. The area features a well-preserved ancient residential architectural complex from the Ming and Qing dynasties, known to locals as the “Zhu Family Courtyard,” dubbed the “Little Ninety-Nine and a Half Rooms.” Built during the Ming Dynasty and renovated during the Kangxi and Qianlong eras of the Qing Dynasty, it has been preserved to this day. The area includes historical sites such as Shi Liangcai’s Former Residence. … More detailed information about Longdu Community++