Former Residence of Rong Zongjing

　　Near the intersection of North Shaanxi Road and West Nanjing Road, there is a row of ornamental stone low walls. For over half a century, the entrance here has been tightly closed. In recent years, the once-sealed gates have swung open, revealing the true face of this mansion: the lintels and window sills are adorned with exquisite carvings; the windows are all made of colorful stained glass; the red corners of the building peek out from among the trees, and to the south lies a neat and level lawn. Without a doubt, this is one of the few top-tier mansions in Shanghai and also one of the best-preserved large garden villas in the city.

　　This is an independent three-story Western-style residence with a garden. It was once the early Shanghai residence of the Rong family, commonly referred to as the old Rong family mansion. The property covers a land area of 6.26 mu, with a building area of 2,182 square meters and a garden area of 2,475 square meters. The old Rong family mansion is designed in an eclectic style with a reinforced concrete structure, and was designed by Chen Chunjian. The building’s façade is divided by horizontal lines overall, reflecting a French classical style. The ground floor features a spacious porch and tall Ionic columns. The building incorporates a significant amount of Western architectural techniques, structural elements, and residential facilities, while the layout, interior and exterior decorations, and garden landscaping retain more traditional Chinese customs and preferences.

　　Due to the growth of the Rong family and the expansion of their business ventures, family members gradually moved out of the old residence to settle in other homes. The mansion remained vacant for several years. After the liberation of Shanghai, the property was rented out to the China Economic Research Institute by Rong Xiaofan, the agent entrusted to manage the estate on behalf of the Rong family.

　　In 2002, the old Rong family mansion caught the eye of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who leased it for 10 years, making it the Shanghai base for various subsidiaries under News Corporation.

　　Transportation

　　Address: No. 186, North Shaanxi Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai

　　Getting There: Accessible by buses including routes 01, 20, 24, 37, 48, 49, 71, 127, 304, 311, 330, and 925.