The former residence of Mao Zedong provides a pleasant discovery in an area dominated by car part shops.

Mao Zedong lived in the home at No. 5-9, Lane 120, Maoming Road N. of Shanghai in 1924. It was here that he lived with his first wife, Yang Kaihui, and their two children, Mao Anying and Mao Anqing, and his mother-in-law for nearly nine months. It was his longest stay in the city.

The founder of the People's Republic of China, also known as Chairman Mao, was most probably the most influential figure in China's modern history.

Born in 1893 to a peasant family in the village of Shaoshan, Hunan Province, he helped found the Chinese Communist Party in 1921 in Shanghai. In 1935, he was elected the head of the Party which he would lead until his death in 1976 at the age of 83.

Over the years, he would build the Red Army (the early name of the Chinese People's Liberation Army) and later reunite the country after chasing the Kuomintang to Taiwan Island.

In 1949, the Party established the People's Republic of China.

In Shanghai, Mao's simple dwelling, located at the intersection of Maoming Road N. and Weihai Road in the city's Jing'an District, is a two-story house that was built in a style typical of the city's neighborhoods early in the last century.

At the entrance is an archway bearing the name "Jiaxiu Li" or Jiaxiu Lane.

Along the lane, all the walls and ground are paved with gray bricks. On a nearby wall are eight stones inscribed with some well-known poems written by Mao.

Entering into the house, visitors will find three original rooms on the first floor -- a sitting room and two bedrooms. There are also some replica furniture and wax figures of Mao, Yang and their children.

On the way to the stairs is a kitchen where pans, a coal stove and other cooking stuffs are kept in their original form.

On the second floor is a theme exhibition -- "Mao Zedong in Shanghai." It says that the "Great Leader" came to the city more than 50 times during his lifetime.

The exhibition, which is divided into four parts, records his activities during his various stays in the city at different places and periods of time.

Chronicling his relationship with the city are hundreds of old photos, documents, newspapers, books and letters he wrote to friends and co-workers.

The photos are particularly interesting as they provide a thorough insight into the "Great Leader's" life in different stages and his passionate pursuit for modern China's revolution.

Many well-known figures, such as Soong Ching-ling and Chen Yun, the former head of the Central Financial and Economic Committee, as well as some famous Chinese performers and athletes can be seen in the photos.

The newspapers and books are also interesting as they include articles written by Mao, most of which were published in the 1920s and 1930s.

A Xinhua News Agency editorial, revised by Mao himself, discusses the liberation of Shanghai.

Modern touches around the house include an electric map outlining nine places where Mao stayed around the city.

The most valuable exhibit is perhaps a sofa that Mao used when he was visiting the Shanghai Machine Tool Works.

The exhibition is not just limited to the house as an adjacent hall chronicles the life Cai Heseng and Xiang Jingyu, a couple that lived in the house with Mao's family.

Both were proletarian revolutionists and leaders of the Chinese Communist Party during its initial stage. However, both were killed at an early age.

To mark Mao Zedong's 110th birthday on December 26, the "Red Collection Exhibition" is currently being held at the site.

Organized by collector Liu Debao, the exhibit features various badges, cups, bowls, pots, books and newspapers that were used or published during the “cultural revolution” (1966-1976).

Red is the dominating color of the exhibit while Mao's image can be found on almost all the articles.

Yang Jiguang, curator of the residence, said the house, one of the patriotism education bases of Jing'an, was becoming popular with tourists and locals alike.

The house was reopened at the end of 2002 after the district spent about 1 million yuan (US$120,481) in restoration, which took six months.

"We expect more people, particularly teenagers, to visit the site and learn about the remarkable role Mao played in founding New China," Yang said.

The Former Residence of Mao Zedong

Address: No. 5 - No. 9

Lane 120, Maoming Road N., Shanghai

Admission: Five yuan, three yuan for students

Opening Hours: 9 am to 11 am; 1 pm to 4 pm, Tuesday to Sunday

Tel: 021-6272-3656

Traffic: Metro Line 2, Bus 15, 20, 21, 49, 71, 127, 548, 925, 936, 939

(Eastday.com January 12, 2004)