Former residence of Song Qingling

Prostitution, stage musicals and fascism aside, Madam Song is China’s answer to Argentina’s Eva Perón. After the death of Sun Yat-sen, his widow showed some sympathy towards the Communist cause. Despite the fact that her younger sister was married to Nationalist Party leader and arch-foe, Chiang Kaishek, Mao Zedong gave Song this beautiful lakeside compound in 1963 to reward her loyalty. She lived here until her death in 1981, devoting much of her time to the education of the city’s children. Generally regarded as a secular saint by the establishment, her residence now functions as a popular museum honouring her life, and includes all of her material possessions.