Former Residence of Mao Zedong on Maoming Road, Shanghai　上海茂名南路毛泽东旧居

In January 1924, the First National Conference of KMT, which symbolized the cooperation of KMT and CCP, was held in Guangzhou. Mao Zedong was elected the alternate member of the Central Executive Committee of KMT. Later on, KMT established Executive Department in Shanghai, Beijing and other cities. Mao Zedong was one of the members that organized and established the KMT Executive Department in Shanghai. Before long, he was appointed the Acting Director, and soon the Director, of the Secretarial Section of the Department. Meanwhile, he was also the secretary of the Organizational Department. In February of the same year, Mao Zedong moved from the organization of the Central Committee of CCP at Sanzeng Li in Zhabei District to No.318, Jiaxiu Li, Moulmein Road, what is now No.7, Lane 120, North Maoming Road. At the beginning of June, i.e. shortly before the Dragon Boat Festival, Mao's wife Yang Kaihui, together with her sons Mao Anying and Mao Anqing as well as her mother Xiang Zhenxi, came to Shanghai from Changsha to help with his work.

During his lifetime, Mao Zedong was in Shanghai over 50 times. In the early period, he dwelled in Shanghai for ten times. Jiaxiu Li is the place where Mao Zedong and Yang Kaihui stayed for the longest time. This residence was listed as a cultural relic under municipal protection on December 7, 1977. And on the occasion of Mao Zedong's 106th birthday on December 26, 1999, it was open to the public after some expansion and renovation.

The houses in Jiaxiu Li are the early stone-gate buildings in Shanghai. Of two stories, the former residence consists of three gates with the main house flanked by two wing rooms. The house was built with black bricks, with a black painted gate framed by granites and attached with brass door rings. Against the west wall, there is the bronze statue of Mao Zedong and his family. At the age of 31, Mao Zedong is sitting in the ivy armchair, with a book in one hand and a cigarette in the other, and looking backward at Yang Kaihui on the left-hand side behind him. Yang is holding her younger son Anqing in her arms, and the two-year-old Anying is merrily running around. Of approximately one ton in weight, this group of statues was cast in commemoration of Mao Zedong's 100th birthday. Behind the bronze statues there are profuse green bamboos and the walls are covered with green ivy vines, showing a warm and tranquil atmosphere. Once you step into the house at No.7, Jiaxiu Li, the light-colored water-ink painting hanging in the front room will immediately catch your sight. Mr. Xi Wenyuan made the painting. In the picture, Mao Zedong was sitting in the ivy armchair with a big leaf fan in his hand and newspapers and magazines were on the stool by his side. Standing by his side was Yang Kaihui, holding Anqing in her arms. And against his knee was the youngest son Anlong. In the middle against the wall of the living room is a square table together with two wooden armchairs. On both sides are tea tables and a pair of chairs. All the furniture was 100 years ago. The living room was the place where Mao Zedong met his friends and held discussions with them. Behind it is the kitchen. The front wing room on the east is Mao and Yang's bedroom and study. The furniture in the room is quite simple. And in it there are a group of wax figures: Mao Zedong is sitting in front of the desk by the window facing the courtyard, holding a brush in his hand and looking backward as if he is soliciting Yang Kaihui for some opinions. Yang is holding Anying in her arms, and Anqing is sleeping soundly in the cradle. The back wing room is Xiang Zhenxi's bedroom. Displayed on the first floor of the house at No.5 are ten family photos under the title Mao Zedong and his Family, as well as 24 historical photos under the title Mao Zedong in Shanghai in 1924. All these photos truthfully recorded Mao Zedong's revolutionary career. The second floor is the exhibition of Mao Zedong in Shanghai, consisting of six parts. In the exhibition there are twelve precious photos of the other residences of Mao Zedong in Shanghai and at work. In the early period, three of the former residences of Mao Zedong's are all in the former Jing'an District, among which the ones on Maoming Road and at No.63 of Anyi Road, formerly No.29 South Minhou Li of Anyi Road, have been both listed as the cultural relics under municipal protection. However, only the one on Maoming Road is open to the public. Exhibited in this location are also some of Mao Zedong's handwritings, inscriptions, and articles he used when he was alive. One of the exhibits is a pair of light brown woolen trousers, donated by Tian Yunyu, one of Mao's bodyguards. Because of a long age, the edges are already frayed.

There is also the showroom of the history and artifacts of Mao Anying. At the age of 2, Mao Anying came to Shanghai with his mother, and was imprisoned with his mother at 8 years old. After Yang Kaihui died a martyr, he went to the Soviet Union for education. On October 7, 1950, he joined the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and went to Korea. And on November 25 of the same year he heroically dedicated his life. In the showroom, there are dozens of photos of Mao Anying and some relevant documents. There is a cupful of the soil from where Mao Anying sacrificed his life, which was donated by Liu Siqi, Mao Anying's wife.

While he was staying here, Mao Zedong produced a large quantity of concrete, practical and effective work. To maintain the KMT-CCP cooperation, actively implement Dr. Sun Yetsan's Three Policies, and resolutely carry out the anti-imperialist and anti-feudalist democratic revolution, he launched unyielding struggles against the KMT rightists. Besides doing housework, taking care of the children, assisting Mao Zedong with the collection and arrangement of documents, copying drafts and doing proofreading, Yang Kaihui, in collaboration with Xiang Jingyu, took an active part in women's movement under the camouflage of running a part-time women's professional school. She used to teach in the worker's evening school in the textile factory area at Xiaoshadu, what is now the Xikang Road, twice a week. She advocated revolutionary ideas to the workers. In order to be dear to the workers and to communicate with them more easily, she even persisted in learning the Shanghai dialect; therefore, she was highly respected and welcomed by the workers.

Address: No.7 Lane 120 North Maoming Road, Shanghai

Tel.: 021-62723656

Open hours: 9:00 - 16:30