Shanghai | The "Romantic Cottage" on Lixi Road

Lixi Road, less than 1 kilometer in length, holds endless romance within its embrace💐. With its naturally curved path🏘️, resembling the trail of a fairy🧚‍♀️, the creamy-yellow building exteriors glow with warmth under the sunlight☀️. The adorable rooftop chimneys are enough to make anyone fall in love at first sight. Recommended spots to check out: ✔️ Li Hongzhang's Mother's Residence Villa No. 44 on Lixi Road was built in 1889 by Li Hongzhang for his mother, covering approximately 607 square meters. This two-story tower-like structure is entirely wooden, with small river pebbles adorning the exterior walls. Although major renovations replaced the original roof with ordinary gray tiles, the building still exudes a serene and peaceful aura under the shade of trees🌿. ✔️ "The Big House on Lixi Road" At the end of Lane 949 on Yan'an West Road (formerly Great Western Road), nestled against Lixi Road, stands a Nordic-style garden villa🏡. This is the "big house on Lixi Road" mentioned in writer Chen Danyan's book "Shanghai's Golden Branches and Jade Leaves," referring to the residence of the Guo brothers, founders of the Wing On Company. This massive three-story brick-and-wood standalone garden villa spans nearly 1,640 square meters, featuring a steep red tile roof and dry-stacked river pebble exterior walls. Old family photos📷 show the once-spacious southern garden lawn🌱, though part of the garden was replaced by a six-story apartment building in the 1970s. ✔️ Dai Family Garden No. 5, Lane 24 on Lixi Road, built in the 1930s, was originally the residence of Dai Gengxin, founder of the "Meili" cigarette brand and a renowned tobacco magnate during the Republic of China era. This French-style standalone garden house, constructed with brick and wood, features a protruding central section on the south side and a large outdoor platform🪴 on the east. The roof showcases a distinctive Dutch-style design, making it truly unique. Location: Lixi Road, Changning District, Shanghai