4-Day, 3-Night Shanghai Itinerary for History Buffs (3)

By Li Xinyi | Compiled & Reported

Beyond its dazzling, glamorous facade, Shanghai’s unique cultural heritage is not to be overlooked. The former residences of historical figures such as Sun Yat-sen, Soong Ching-ling, and Chiang Kai-shek are all located here, and poets like Xu Zhimo and his beloved Lu Xiaoman, writer Eileen Chang, Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, as well as film stars Hu Die and Yan Jun, once wandered the lanes of Shanghai. Even the then government of the Republic of China helped Jewish refugees persecuted by World War II in Shanghai, and last year’s newly established Jewish Memorial Hall bears witness to this history. These traces all illustrate the pivotal role Shanghai played in the last century.

Duolun Road is regarded as a microcosm of Shanghai’s development. The Chinese government has praised it as “One Duolun Road, a Century of Shanghai.” Among Shanghai’s hundreds of bustling streets and alleys, this road earned such an honor mainly because it was once home to many left-wing writers, who even formed the “League of Left-Wing Writers Association,” making it a true “Cultural Celebrity Street” and a key hub of modern Chinese literature. In addition to the former residences of notable individuals, there are also art galleries, cultural centers, cafes, teahouses, restaurants, and hotels... You could easily spend a whole afternoon exploring this compact street and still find more to enjoy.

 

Located on Xiangshan Road, this residence sits quietly within a secluded alley. With rows of plane trees rustling gently, it was where Dr. Sun Yat-sen and his wife Soong Ching-ling lived from 1918 to 1924. This two-story garden villa is the only property left by the Father of the Nation, and while the interior is simply furnished, it is quite elegant. The downstairs consists of a small living room, while the upstairs houses a study and bedroom. The furnishings inside were arranged in 1956 by Soong Ching-ling to resemble the original setup. Most of the items are originals, including many precious photos and manuscripts.

This small house was bought in 1918 by Xu Chongzhi, an old comrade of the Tongmenghui, and gifted to Dr. Sun. However, due to insufficient revolutionary funds, it was twice mortgaged to banks and couldn’t be redeemed. Later, overseas branches of the Kuomintang learned of this and raised donations from overseas Chinese to pay off the principal and interest. Dr. Sun moved in and settled down in January 1920. However, in 1924, when Feng Yuxiang launched a coup in Beijing, overthrowing the warlord Cao Kun’s government, he invited Dr. Sun to the north to discuss the political situation. On November 17, Dr. Sun arrived in Shanghai from Guangzhou, stayed for five days, and then quickly headed north. This short stay turned out to be their farewell, as Dr. Sun passed away in Beijing on March 12 of the following year.

 

 

This Spanish-style building was where Zhou Enlai and other CCP representatives stayed in 1946 when they came to Shanghai to discuss plans for peaceful nation-building with the Kuomintang after the end of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945. The three-story building retains the same layout as it did back then. The façade is covered with lush green ivy, giving off a cool and tranquil vibe. Heading up to the small attic on the third floor, you can see the room of the distinguished couple Qiao Guanhua and Gong Peng, who accompanied Zhou to Shanghai. Through the small window, you can glimpse a quaint little garden.

 

Located at Lane 913, Middle Yan’an Road, Simingyuan covers 1.9 hectares and consists of 118 interconnected brick-and-wood row houses. It is a type of modern Shikumen (stone-gate) lane residence. Because historical figures such as Qing Dynasty Hanlin academician Gao Zhenxiao, Chinese philology master Zhang Taiyan, poet Xu Zhimo and his beloved Lu Xiaoman, film stars Hu Die and Yan Jun, and Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore once lived here, it was designated as a “Cultural Celebrity Village” in 2005. Though those figures have long since passed, the deliberately decorated famous verses on the walls offer visitors something to ponder and remember.