Former Residence of Rong Desheng in Shanghai

　　Rong Desheng (1875–1952), given name Quan and courtesy name Desheng, was a native of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, and one of China’s greatest national capitalists. He “was engaged in industries such as textiles, flour milling, and machinery for nearly 60 years, enduring the reactionary rule and oppression of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, and persevered through hardship,” earning the titles “King of Flour” and “King of Cotton Yarn.”

　　Rong Desheng’s former residence in Shanghai is located at No. 20, Lane 18, Gao’an Road, Xuhui District. It is an independent modern garden villa built in 1939. The design is ingenious and the layout rational, with a style that is practical, simple, and innovative. The yellow cement-textured exterior walls reflect the owner Rong Desheng’s pragmatic and unpretentious character as an industrialist. The villa faces south, and the ground floor foyer features two Tuscan-style columns inspired by Italian Renaissance architecture, blending classical Western elements with modern architectural aesthetics.

　　To the comfort of the late Mr. Rong, the Rong family remained prominent for three generations. His son, Rong Yiren, former Vice President of China, was known as the “Red Capitalist”; his grandson, Rong Zongjian, was hailed as the “Red Chip tycoon” and the “reserved billionaire,” topping the 2004 Forbes China Rich List. After the liberation, the Rong family donated the garden to the government, which has since been converted into the Xuhui District Children’s Palace.

　　Transportation Guide

　　Address: No. 20, Lane 18, Gao’an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai

　　Getting There: Take bus routes 15, 93, 167, 198, 315, 320, 824, or 830 in Shanghai and get off at Gao’an Road Station.