Residences of the rich and famous

Some of China's most famous 20th-century identities lived in Shanghai and many of their former residences still stand, Xu Junqian reports.

Because of its relatively young age (around 200 years), Shanghai does not have the ancient historical sites similar to those found in Beijing or Xi'an. But, in its favor, the city attracted some of the most influential and important people in both politics and culture in a critical phase of Chinese history. Some of the Shanghai residences of these notable figures have been preserved and some are open to the public. They offer a fascinating insight into the lives of the people who helped shape modern China.

1. Mao Zedong's house