Wukang Road (Chinese:武康路;pinyin:Wǔkāng Lù;Shanghainese: Wukhån Lu), originallyRoute Ferguson (福开森路), is a historic road in theXuhui District ofShanghai, China, located in the western part of the formerFrench Concession area of the city.[1] In 2011 Wukang Road was recognized as one of the National Historic and Cultural Streets of China.[2]
Wukang Road is only 1.17 kilometres (0.73 mi) long, but is lined with 37 officially protected historic buildings.[3] The buildings in the road incorporate a diverse range of architectural styles, including Mediterranean,French Renaissance,English, andArt Deco.[4] The area is characterized by quiet streets lined withwutong (London plane) trees.[3] Well-known blogger Wang Jianshuo calls it his favourite street in Shanghai.[5] Increasing café and restaurant openings have led to more tourists visiting the street.[6]
InAng Lee's 2007 filmLust, Caution, Route Ferguson is where the hero and heroine have their secret rendezvous.[4] The road is also featured inChen Danyan's novelShanghai Memorabilia.[3] 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.[7]
In 1897,John Calvin Ferguson, an American educator and president ofNanyang Public School (predecessor ofShanghai Jiao Tong University), built the road with his own salary to make it easier for colleagues and students to get to the school.[8] The road was thus namedRoute Ferguson in his honour.[2][8] It was paved in 1907[4] and broadened by the government of the French Concession. It was renamed Wukang Road in 1943, afterWukang County (now part ofDeqing) in nearbyZhejiang province, but its original name is still well known to locals.[8]
Wukang Road has been home for numerous Chinese celebrities, especially during the mid-20th century. Famous residents include revolutionaryHuang Xing, first ladySoong Ching-ling, high-ranking politiciansZhou Fohai,Tang Shaoyi,Chen Lifu,Chen Guofu,Chen Yi,Deng Xiaoping, writersBa Jin,Zheng Zhenduo,Li Shizeng, singerZhou Xuan, and many movie stars and business tycoons.[3]
In 1937,Tang Shaoyi, the first prime minister of theRepublic of China, bought a house on Route Ferguson (now at No. 1, Lane 40, Wukang Road) and retired there. The following year, theImperial Japanese Armyinvaded 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, theKuomintang assassinated him at his home on 30 September 1938.[4][9]
TheWukang Mansion (formerly Normandie Apartments), at the southern end of Wukang Road, on the corner with MiddleHuaihai Road, is a protected historic building. It was designed by the renowned Hungarian-Slovak architectLászló Hudec (1893–1958) in theFrench Renaissance style, and was completed in 1924.[10] It was home to numerous celebrities including famous actors and actressesWu Yin,Wang Renmei,Qin Yi,Zhao Dan,Sun Daolin,Wang Wenjuan,Shangguan Yunzhu, and actor/directorZheng Junli.[11]Soong Ching-ling, the widow of PresidentSun Yat-sen, lived at the end of Wukang Road across Huaihai Road. Her home is now open to the public as theSoong Ching-ling Memorial Residence.[12]
The road was the former residence for a number of notable people:[8]
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31°12′27″N121°26′24″E / 31.2076°N 121.4401°E /31.2076; 121.4401
