Quguang Park

　　Quguang Park faces south with its back to the north, bordered by the Xuhui District Swimming Pool to the east, Nandan Road to the south, Hui Zhan Road to the west, and Xujiahui Catholic Church to the north. The park covers an area of 13,200 square meters. Originally the burial site of Xu Guangqi, a renowned patriotic scientist of the late Ming Dynasty, it was first established in the 14th year of the Chongzhen reign (1641). The cemetery originally spanned 13,300 square meters and included ten tombs—Xu Guangqi and his wife Lady Wu were buried in the main tomb, while their four grandsons and their wives were interred in the surrounding tombs. The site once featured stone sheep, stone horses, ornamental columns, and a memorial archway, most of which had deteriorated by the end of the 19th century. By then, only 12,000 square meters of the original land remained. In the 29th year of the Guangxu reign (1903), to commemorate the 270th anniversary of Xu Guangqi’s death, the site was renovated, the stone statues and archway were restored, and a large cross was erected at the front of the tomb, along with a commemorative stone tablet. In the 22nd year of the Republic of China (1933), on the 300th anniversary of Xu Guangqi’s passing, iron railings were installed around the cross, terrazzo railings enclosed the tomb area, and cement pathways were built. After the Japanese occupation of Shanghai in 1937, the site fell into disrepair, and the original stone statues, columns, and archway were damaged, leaving only fragments remaining.

　　In 1957, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture allocated funds for restoration and designated it as a municipal cultural heritage site. During the Cultural Revolution, parts of the site were occupied, and the stone relics were further damaged. In 1978, the Shanghai Revolutionary Committee reclaimed the occupied land, funded renovations, and opened it to the public as Nandan Park on May 1st of that year. In 1981, the tomb was reconstructed into a large elliptical Ming-style grave. In November 1983, to mark the 350th anniversary of Xu Guangqi’s death, Nandan Park was renamed Quguang Park in his honor. On January 13, 1988, it was listed as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council. Major Attractions (Areas)

　　Quguang Park is a commemorative park. The northern section is the tomb area, the eastern part is a leisure zone, and the western area is designated for youth activities. The park features distinctive Dutch-style umbrella pavilions and waterside gazebos. A bust of Xu Guangqi stands in front of the tomb, with an inscription corridor displaying his calligraphy to the left. The tomb is surrounded by evergreen pines and cypresses. The park is filled with winding paths, lush trees, koi in lotus ponds, and green lawns. It is well-maintained, tranquil, and offers a peaceful retreat in the bustling city. The surroundings are planted with resilient evergreens such as metasequoia, oleander, privet, and black pine. Along the paths, pond edges, and near the tomb, podocarpus, dragon juniper, metasequoia, ginkgo, and camphor trees are widely planted, interspersed with flowering trees and shrubs like magnolia, silk tree, and wintersweet to enrich seasonal scenery and enhance the landscape. The park hosts nearly 100 species of trees, with seasonal flowers rotated throughout the year.

　　Xu Guangqi’s Tomb: Located in the northern part of the park, the tomb is elliptical, standing 2.2 meters high and encased in granite. The top is covered with lush green grass. In front of the tomb are planted large camphor trees, dragon junipers, cedars, and oleanders, while a forest of metasequoia trees stands behind. A tombstone inscribed with the five characters “Ming Xu Guangqi Tomb” (written by Su Buqing) is erected at the front. Stone benches are placed on both sides, with a Qing Dynasty stone horse preserved on the right.

　　Transportation

　　Routes 732, 920, 205, 830, and others

　　Admission

　　Free

　　Opening Hours

　　05:00–18:00

　　Location

　　No. 17, Nandan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai

　　

　　

　　Xu Guangqi (1562~1633)　　Xu Guangqi (April 24, 1562 – November 10, 1633) was a scientist, agronomist, and politician of late Ming China, and one of the pioneers of East-West cultural exchange. His courtesy name was Zixian, and his pseudonym was Xuanhu. His baptismal name was Paul. He was of Han ethnicity, from Shanghai County, Songjiang Prefecture, Nanzhili (modern-day Shanghai), a Catholic, and revered as the foremost of the “Three Pillars of the Holy Faith.” He passed the imperial examination in the 32nd year of the Wanli reign (1604). Proficient in astronomy, calendrical science, and firearms, he converted to Catholicism and studied with the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci. In the 40th year of Wanli, he served as an official compiling almanacs and collaborated with the missionary Johann Adam Schall von Bell to create celestial and terrestrial globes and other observational instruments. The following year, he was accused of misconduct, claimed illness, and resigned to farm in Tianjin. In his forties... Details+