The Residence of the KMT Minister of Transportation

This was the private residence of the Minister of Transportation of the Kuomintang (KMT or  "Nationalist" Chinese) Government, which seized power in Shanghai in 1927. The Minister lost no time in building himself a prestigious home: despite its Victorian Gothic appearance, a plaque over the door proclaims that is was built in 1930. The choice of style might be a little over the top, but it was not unusual. Most of the KMT leaders seemed to prefer to live in the western style, albeit not usually as flamboyant a residence as this one. Note a lesser official's choice of a more subtle pastel dwelling in the French Concession.

The mansion now houses class and activity rooms of the neighborhood " Children's Palace". That they see heavy use is illustrated by a recent newspaper article which stated that upon announcement of Saturday morning English classes to be held there for children, three thousand showed up for registration.

House of a former KMT official