 | ||
Similar Wukang Mansion, Former Residence of Ba Jin, Shanghai French Concession, Soong Ching‑ling Memorial, Tianzifang | ||
Shanghai s wukang road a hit with local residents
Wukang Road (Chinese: 武康路; pinyin: Wǔkāng Lù; Shanghainese: Wukon Lu), originally Route Ferguson (福开森路), is a historic road in the Xuhui District of Shanghai, China, located in the western part of the former French Concession area of the city. In 2011 Wukang Road was recognized as one of the National Historic and Cultural Streets of China.
Contents
- Shanghai s wukang road a hit with local residents
- Map of Wu Kang Lu Xuhui Qu Shanghai Shi China
- Wukang road shanghai china panorama video 20 02 2017
- Overview
- History
- Wukang Mansion
- Former residences
- References
Map of Wu Kang Lu, Xuhui Qu, Shanghai Shi, China
Wukang road shanghai china panorama video 20 02 2017
Overview
Wukang Road is only 1.17 kilometres (0.73 mi) long, but is lined with 37 officially protected historic buildings. The buildings in the road incorporate a diverse range of architectural styles, including Mediterranean, French Renaissance, English, and Art Deco. The area is characterized by quiet streets lined with wutong (London plane) trees. Well-known blogger Wang Jianshuo calls it his favourite street in Shanghai. The buzz of recent café and restaurant openings along the road have drawn both local and international foodies and lifestyle bloggers, with many happily queuing more than an hour for a scoop of ice cream.
In Ang Lee's 2007 film Lust, Caution, Route Ferguson is where the hero and heroine have their secret rendezvous. The road is also featured in Chen Danyan's novel Shanghai Memorabilia. It is a popular sightseeing location for tourists interested in the architecture and history of the area. There is a tourist information center at 393 Wukang Road that provides self-guided walking tours.
History
In 1897, John Calvin Ferguson, an American educator and president of Nanyang Public School (predecessor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University), built the road with his own salary to make it easier for colleagues and students to get to the school. The road was thus named Route Ferguson in his honour. It was paved in 1907 and broadened by the government of the French Concession. It was renamed Wukang Road in 1943, after Wukang County (now part of Deqing) in nearby Zhejiang province, but its original name is still well known to locals.
Wukang Road has been home for numerous Chinese celebrities, especially during the mid-20th century. Famous residents include revolutionary Huang Xing, first lady Soong Ching-ling, high-ranking politicians Zhou Fohai, Tang Shaoyi, Chen Lifu, Chen Guofu, Chen Yi, Deng Xiaoping, writers Ba Jin, Zheng Zhenduo, Li Shizeng, singer Zhou Xuan, and many movie stars and business tycoons.
In 1937, Tang Shaoyi, the first prime minister of the Republic of China, bought a house on Route Ferguson (now at No. 1, Lane 40, Wukang Road) and retired there. The following year, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded and occupied Shanghai (though not yet the foreign concessions), and tried to recruit Tang to head a pro-Japanese puppet government. Fearing Tang may collaborate with the Japanese, the Kuomintang assassinated him at his home on 30 September 1938.
Wukang Mansion
The Wukang Mansion (formerly Normandie Apartments), at the southern end of Wukang Road, on the corner with Middle Huaihai Road, is a protected historic building. It was designed by the renowned Hungarian-Slovak architect László Hudec (1893–1958) in the French Renaissance style, and was completed in 1924. It was home to numerous celebrities including famous actors and actresses Wu Yin, Wang Renmei, Qin Yi, Zhao Dan, Sun Daolin, Wang Wenjuan, Shangguan Yunzhu, and actor/director Zheng Junli. Soong Ching-ling, the widow of President Sun Yat-sen, lived at the end of Wukang Road across Huaihai Road. Her home is now open to the public as the Soong Ching-ling Memorial Residence.
Former residences
The road was the former residence for a number of notable people: