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Address: No. 64 Yan'an Road W, Jing'an District
The Former Residence of Sir Elly Kadoorie, commonly known as the "Marble Palace", now houses the Children's Palace of China Welfare institute.
Sir Elly Kadoorie was a philanthropist and a member of a wealthy family that had large business interests in the Far East. At the end of the 19th Century, he started to develop enterprises in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and he was also active in devoting to charity.
The residence was built in 1924 in the style of European palace. There used to have stable, tennis courts and greenhouse on the lawn, south of the villa. Since the contracture used marble as its building material in many parts, the house was also called the "Marble Palace".
In 1953, after requiring the approval of the Kadoorie family, Song Qingling here founded the Children's Palace of China Welfare institute, the earliest one in China.
In 1979, Laurence Kadoorie couple, the son and daughter-in-law of Sir Kadoorie, went back to Shanghai and expressed happiness when seeing his father’s favorite building being used by thousands of children.
The residence became the city's outstanding historical building in 1989.
By Wang
Source:english.eastday.com
