Mao Zedong’s Shanghai domicile. It’s not just a building. It’s a portal to a pivotal moment in Chinese history. We are standing before the Former Residence of Mao Zedong. It’s located at 120 Maoming Bei Lu. This unassuming shikumen building holds immense significance.
This traditional two-story house served as Mao’s residence in 1924. He was working in Shanghai as the CPC’s Central Committee’s Organization Department Minister. Built in 1915, Mao stayed here for just under a year. After that, he didn’t return for another 31 years.
Imagine Mao Zedong living here with his first wife, Yang Kaihui. They lived here with their two children, Mao Anying and Mao Anqing, and his mother-in-law. This was nearly nine months. It was his longest stay in Shanghai.
The Former Residence of Mao Zedong has been converted into a museum. It showcases Mao’s activities in Shanghai during that rollicking politicking period. The museum chronicles the ensuing decades of radical change. Inside, you’ll find three exhibition areas. They’re organized into a timeline of events involving Mao. Original documents and photographs mark the trajectories of events.
In one of the rooms on the first floor, you’ll see wax replicas of Mao and Yang. Mao is writing revolutionary things by the desk. Yang is taking care of their babies. Supporting documentation suggests this was probably the period when he spent the longest amount of time with his family. Other rooms display Mao’s furniture, clothing, and hats. You can also see a few personal items like his pens, pencils, tea can, and smokes.
The building itself is a beautifully restored shikumen. It exudes Old Shanghai charm. It features high ceilings, a classic wood-and-brick finish, and big, dreamy windows. Natural light floods the space. The site recently reopened to the public on January 4 after being closed for two years for renovations.
The atmosphere here is weighty. Many visitors are older. They carefully assess the decades-old photographs and parchments. They have more perspective than most. The exhibition is particularly interesting for avid historians. These are deep cuts into early period Mao.
The displays are primarily in Chinese. English speakers might find the “Watch Your Head” sign on the stairway to be the only thing in English.
Mao Zedong, also known as Chairman Mao, was a transformative figure in China’s modern history. Born in 1893, he helped found the Chinese Communist Party in Shanghai in 1921. He would build the Red Army and reunite the country. In 1949, the Party established the People’s Republic of China.
The house reopened at the end of 2002. The district spent about 1 million yuan in restoration. It took six months. The Former Residence of Mao Zedong has become a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. It is one of the patriotism education bases of Jing’an.
Remember the Long March. Remember the revolution. Remember Mao’s time right here in this house. It all began here. This is where he lived, worked, and planned. This is the Former Residence of Mao Zedong.