The 13-kilometer-long Yan'an Elevated Road, stretching from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in the west to the Bund in the east, is not only a major traffic artery connecting the two ends of Shanghai, but also a testament to the city's transformation and development.

Along its path, numerous former residences of prominent historical figures and relics tell the story of the city's cultural heritage and urban landscape.

Zhang's Garden

In 1882, wealthy businessman Zhang Shuhe from Wuxi, Jiangsu province, bought land to build a garden, commonly referred to as Zhang's Garden. It opened to the public for free in 1885. The first electric light, the first bicycle, and the first outdoor photo studio all made their debut in China in the garden.

The garden features 13 outstanding historical buildings in Shanghai and 24 district-level cultural heritage items. The architectural style include a mix of Chinese and Western elements.

Location: Lane 200-290 North Maoming Road

Opening hours: Open all day (business hours from 10 am to 10 pm)

Reservation: No reservations required

Mao Zedong's former residence

Located at No 7 Lane 120,  North Maoming Road, this is an old Shikumen residence where late chairman Mao Zedong and his wife Yang Kaihui lived from February to the end of 1924.

The residence has an area of 520 square meters and reflects the Shikumen architectural style of Shanghai in the 1920s and 1930s. The lane is paved with blue bricks. The first-floor exhibition hall presents the work and life of Mao Zedong in Shanghai in 1924.

Location: No 7 Lane 120, North Maoming Road

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday (Closed on Monday), 9 am–4:30 pm (no entry after 4 pm)

Reservation: No reservations required; free admission

Liu Jisheng's former residence (Shanghai Writers' Association)

Located at No 675 Julu Road, this garden-style house was the first independent design by Hungarian architect Ladislav Hudec after establishing his own practice and was built around 1929. Since 1953, it has served as the office of the East China Writers' Association (the predecessor of the Shanghai Writers' Association).

The building, built in the Italian Renaissance style, has an elegant interior and was built using brick and mixed materials, with a wooden framework. The structure consists of three main floors and an attic, covering an area of about 1,300 square meters. In 1999, it was listed as an outstanding historical building in Shanghai.

Location: No 675 Julu Road

Opening hours: Office use only, not open to the public

Cai Yuanpei's former residence

Located at No 16 Lane 303, Huashan Road, this is the former residence of the educator Cai Yuanpei, where he lived in 1937. It is his last residence in Shanghai and the best-preserved of his former homes in China.

The building, with an area of 520 square meters and a garden area of 670 sq m, is a three-story British-style garden villa. The small entrance gate is topped with a canopy, and the gray cement garden wall is low and rough, with climbing ivy.

Location: No 16 Lane 303, Huashan Road

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday (Closed on Monday), 9 am–4:30 pm (last entry at 4 pm); the third-floor exhibition is open on Wednesday from 9 am–4:30 pm (last entry at 4 pm)

Reservation: No reservations required; free admission

Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles

The main building at No 238 West Yan'an Road was built in the 1920s and 1930s as a residential building.  In 1994, the main building was listed as an outstanding historical building in Shanghai.

The old villa was designed in a classical style, with symmetrical and segmented designs, rich spatial layers, and exquisite details. The building displays characteristics of the Italian Renaissance style, with elements of Baroque decoration.

Location: No 238 West Yan'an Road

Opening hours: Office use only, not open to the public

Source: Shanghai Historical Building Protection Administration Center