Xuyuan Site – A Blend of Jiangnan and British Style

Tucked away among the high-rise buildings on the south side of Yan’an Middle Road lies Xuyuan,[...]

Tucked away among the high-rise buildings on the south side of Yan’an Middle Road lies Xuyuan, a garden with Jiangnan and British villa styles. Constructed in the 1920s and 1930s, the once exquisite Jiangnan garden now no longer exists. The entire park has been rented out for commercial use, with only a lonely sign marking the Xuyuan site hanging on the wall. According to historical records, the Shanghai People’s Acrobatic Troupe, established in 1951 (the predecessor of the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe), was located at 549 Yan’an Middle Road, which was the former site of Xuyuan. If one is fortunate enough to enter Xuyuan, one can still find traces of past rehearsals on the high beams. – Origin of the Name ‘Xu’ The owner of the garden was originally Hong Zhenliang, the former chairman of the Zhejiang Commercial Savings Bank, and later it passed to his son, Hong Junyan. Hence, it was previously known as the Hong Family Garden. The Hong family later changed the garden’s name to Xuyuan, likely due to the fact that Yan’an Middle Road was then called Fuxu Road. Opening hours are subject to the notice at the scenic spot.

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