孙中山故居下月重新对外开放 - 2015年12月31日

THE former residence of Dr Sun Yat-sen will reopen to the public next month after the completion of a major renovation work, the curator announced yesterday.

The Shanghai Museum of Sun Yat-Sen's Former Residence on 7 Xiangshan Road in Huangpu District was being renovated since July after a decade.

It will reopen on January 1 to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Dr Sun next year, the curator, Liu Jinchi, said.

The public will be able to access more areas that was once the residence of the founder of Republic of China. They include the backyard that has never opened to the public before, Liu said.

"We tried to restore the original look of the house after referring to many old photos and retired employees who worked in the memorial hall," Liu said.

Dr Sun and his wife Soong Ching-Ling lived in the house from 1918 to his death in March 1925. Soong continued to live there until 1937.

The two-story European-style villa was bought by an overseas Chinese as a gift for Dr Sun to support his revolution.

It was opened to the public in 1988, and is listed as an important historical site and placed under the state's protection.

Liu said renovations are carried out every 10 years to protect the historic building.

There are some precious pictures in the building, including group photos of the members of Communist Party of China and Kuomintang Party.

Some of items on display include the officer's sword, military maps and writing tools once used by Dr Sun.