Hengshan guide launched
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2004-09-21 09:56

People will be able to take a self-guided tour of about 50 historic and cultural sites around Hengshan Road in Xuhui District by following two new routes designed for travelers.

The xuhui District Tourism Administrative Bureau and the Shanghai Teachers University have co-compiled and published a guidebook including the new routes.

The pamphlet titled "Shanghai Hengshan Road City Tour Guide for Individual Tourists" uses illustrations to note the location of famous people's residences, historic museums, buildings blending different styles, as well as parks, cafes, discos, and other amusement or recreational venues.

Most sites are well known among local people, such as the former residence of Soong Ching-ling (1893-1981, the wife of revolutionist Sun Yat-sen) on Huaihai Road and the Shanghai Arts and Crafts Museum on Fenyang Road, said Xu Lingzhi, an official of the Xuhui tourism bureau.

"Visitors can follow the routes we recommend or visit places with the help of the guide," she said.

"They will learn stories behind the old villas constructed in various foreign styles."

Xu added that some buildings, now leased for businesses, can only be viewed from outside.

"We include them to arouse more social concern," she said. "We hope someone will help protect them and maximize their value by setting them free from daily use."
People can buy the guide, currently only in Chinese, at the Xuhui tourism bureau on Guilin Road for 30 yuan (US$3.61).

The hengshan Road block, the largest of 12 historic areas under municipal protection, boasts 1,336 garden villas. These houses account for 46 percent of the city's garden villas built before 1949.