Former Residence of Jiang Guangnai in Guangzhou

Former Residence of Jiang Guangnai in Guangzhou

The Former Residence of Jiang Guangnai in Guangzhou is a municipal cultural heritage site.

The former residence of Jiang Guangnai is located at No. 87, Fengyuan North Street, Longjin West Road. The entire building is in the style of the Republican era, featuring gray brick walls, three stories in height, and a construction area of 833 square meters. Originally, the property belonged to Chen Lianzhong. Later, after his female family members got married, Chen sold it to Jiang Guangnai.

Former Residence of Chen Lianbo

The former residence of Jiang Guangnai is a three-story brick-and-wood structure, with an architectural style that blends the features of traditional Xiguan houses and Western-style buildings, representing a typical large residential dwelling of Lingnan in the modern era. Built in the early years of the Republic of China, the residence was once used as the privately-run Wanlv Middle School in Guangzhou during the Republican period. In 1993, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage site by the municipal government, and in 2000, the descendants of the Jiang family donated it to Liwan District.

The former residence of Jiang Guangnai had been restored before the 2010 Asian Games. After a period of collecting artifacts related to Jiang Guangnai's life, the cultural authorities in Liwan District used sound, light, film, physical objects, and photographs within the residence to recreate the life of this patriotic anti-Japanese general.

The former residence of Jiang Guangnai, from being on the verge of collapse to now being fully preserved in a stable condition, underwent an eight-year restoration process and went through three changes in design and construction plans.

On-site: Sound, light, film, and sandbag fortifications recreate the scene of the 19th Route Army's resistance against Japan

Location: No. 87, Fengyuan North Street, Longjin West Road, by the Lychee Bay

Features: Using sound, light, film, physical objects, photographs, and wax figures to recreate the life of this patriotic anti-Japanese general within the residence

The former residence of Jiang Guangnai is now the "Jiang Guangnai Former Residence Museum." The entire museum is divided into several exhibition rooms, each displaying photographs, texts, or physical objects from different periods of Jiang Guangnai’s life. The exhibits are divided into four sections: “Joining the Military and Aspiring to Save the Nation,” “A Renowned General Defending the Nation Against Japan,” “Serving Diligently in the North,” and “Familial Love and Cherished Family Time.”

On the first floor, there is an exhibition room featuring wax figures modeled after the real-life appearance of Jiang Guangnai. The hall on the second floor uses sound, light, and film techniques to recreate the heroic act of Jiang Guangnai leading the 19th Route Army in resisting Japanese forces in Shanghai—firing the first shots of the regular Chinese army against Japan. There are also sandbags and other fortifications in the hall, along with continuous sounds of gunfire and visuals, creating a very lifelike scene.

The current Jiang Guangnai former residence, from its roof tiles to its walls and beams, remains the “original” structure built during the Republican era. However, when it was handed over to Liwan District in 2002, this cultural relic building was already in a state of disrepair and at risk of collapse at any time. To restore the former residence, the Land Resources and Housing Management Department of Liwan District spent a full eight years and went through three changes in design plans.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Heritage Sites