[2025 Shanghai Attraction] Travel Guide for Prada Rongzhai (Updated May)

Prada Rong Zhai is a beautifully restored historic mansion located at 186 North Shaanxi Road in Jing’an District, Shanghai. Originally built in 1918, it was once the private residence of Rong Zongjing, a prominent Chinese industrialist known as the “King of Flour and Cotton Yarn.” The three-story villa is a rare example of East-meets-West architecture. Its exterior reflects a European Renaissance style, while the interiors blend French classical design with traditional Chinese decorative elements, creating a unique and elegant cultural fusion. In 2011, the Italian luxury fashion house Prada leased the property and undertook an extensive six-year restoration project to return the building to its former glory. The restoration preserved intricate woodwork, stained-glass windows, and traditional motifs, all while updating the infrastructure to meet modern standards. Prada Rong Zhai officially reopened in October 2017, and now serves as a multifunctional cultural space. It has hosted a variety of events, including contemporary art exhibitions, fashion shows, and cultural programs. Notable exhibitions have included Shuang Li’s “Distance of the Moon” and Michaël Borremans’ “The Promise”, both of which made full use of the mansion’s atmospheric setting to create immersive experiences. Prada also plans to collaborate with famed director Wong Kar-wai to open his first independent restaurant in Asia within Rong Zhai, further establishing it as a destination where art, fashion, history, and gastronomy converge. Through Prada Rong Zhai, the brand not only demonstrates its respect for Chinese cultural heritage but also contributes to the revitalization of Shanghai’s urban cultural landscape, breathing new life into a century-old landmark.#travel #shanghai #pradarongzhai

Last time I went to Prada Rong Zhai with a friend, and the whole space was absolutely stunning—especially in the evening, when it had a unique charm. I was captivated by the layout of the "Mi Shang" bar—a blend of Milanese and Shanghainese styles. Every detail in the space was meticulously crafted, and walking through it felt like stepping into a movie scene. The design of Rong Zhai itself features elements like stained glass and wood, combining elegance with heritage. It really gives off that vintage Shanghai vibe. We ordered a traditional Italian Christmas cake—light cream, not overly sweet, and really nice. The coffee had a distinct Italian flavor as well, which we loved. Many of the takeaway pastries were beautifully crafted, with Italian artistic design infused into the cakes—a unique kind of aesthetic. 📍 Mi Shang at PRADA Rong Zhai, 186 North Shaanxi Road #discoverchina #shanghai

#discoverchina If you're in Shanghai, don't miss the stunning Prada Rongzhai, a beautifully restored 1918 mansion that blends historic architecture with contemporary art exhibitions. 🏛️ Wander through its elegant rooms, adorned with intricate woodwork and stained glass, and experience cool art installations that transform the space into a living gallery.🌟

There's a new exhibition at Rong Zhai! "Mirroring: Lucio Fontana and Michelangelo Pistoletto" features a cross-temporal dialogue between two Italian artists, breaking through the two-dimensionality of painting and moving towards a multi-dimensional space. I especially love the sculpture titled "Balloon." It's made of bronze, yet it conveys a sense of lightness. In my photo (photo 5), it interacts with the piece "The Other Side of the Wall," showcasing the charm of mirroring. The irreplaceable feeling of experiencing art firsthand is invaluable! As the spring sunlight streams into the historic Rong Zhai, every detail comes alive amidst the shifting light and shadow, creating a dialogue between creativity and the soul. These captured moments may lead us to rethink the meaning of art and our place in life. 🎫Exhibition: Mirroring ⏰Duration: Mar 20–Jun 15, 2025 📍Address: Prada Rong Zhai, 186 Shanxi North Road, Shanghai

Open this door and return to 1936... ✅ I blindfolded myself and listened to the sound of the guqin as I slowly walked into the room. The air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and the passage of time. This salon's theme was "Oriental Aesthetic." The immersive experience included listening to the guqin, talking about art, and painting with your eyes closed... all in the Minese space at Xiaorong House. ✅ The final scene was a live performance by the NPC based on a sentence from us, thanks to a mischievous random teammate. The NPC was not fazed by the "vast ocean" performance without props and successfully performed it in just over ten seconds. 🕙 Opening Hours: Sunday 1:00–6:00 pm

The one-kilometer section of Shaanxi North Road from Julu Road to Xinzha Road is one of the three 'Chinese Historical and Cultural Streets' designated by the National Ministry of Culture. Formerly known as Seymour Road, it was built in 1914 and is a century-old street. It is also one of the '64 roads that will never be widened' in Shanghai. The road is narrow, so narrow that even on the sidewalk, two people meeting must turn sideways to pass each other. The dense plane trees cast deep shadows, walking under them is like entering the gates of a castle. On both sides of the street, lanes, alleys, and large courtyards with deep-set houses and Western-style apartments are mostly over a hundred years old. Along the road, there are more than 20 former residences of celebrities, outstanding historical buildings, and cultural heritage sites, including the old homes of four major families from across the strait and three regions, and traces of well-preserved Jewish culture. A stretch of Seymour Road, a half chapter of modern history.

The story of the Rong family has been written in many biographies by researchers, so we will not do "archaeology". Rong Zongjing's former residence was first built in 1908. The original owner was a German Jew. Today, the original Star of David pattern floor tiles can still be seen in the foyer of the old residence. In 1918, Rong Zongjing spent money to buy this mansion and garden, and carried out several expansions within a few years, making it one of the top mansions in Shanghai at that time. In January 1932, the Rong family received the League of Nations investigation team and held a banquet for 100 people in the Rongzhai garden. A stage was often built in the Rongzhai garden to invite famous actors to perform on the stage. However, Rong Zongjing's peaceful days in this mansion only lasted for more than ten years. When the Anti-Japanese War broke out in 1937, Rong Zongjing fled Shanghai to Hong Kong and died of illness in Hong Kong in February 1938. The real highlight of Rong Zongjing’s former residence is PRADA Group’s “textbook-like restoration of old buildings.” After liberation, Rongzhai was first used as an office space for the Democratic Party, and was leased by Murdoch News Corporation in the 1990s. In 2011, Jing'an District successfully introduced the international brand PRADA Group. PRADA reached a long-term lease agreement with Shanghai Jiushi Group, the owner of the property rights of Rongzhai, and began a 6-year meticulous renovation. The project was restored based on the original drawings. Rongzhai used a large amount of stained glass. The patterns of each stained glass are exquisite. Some symbolize Rong's entrepreneurial path, some are like church windows, and some are symbols of modernity. columnar pattern. Not only is the pattern of the stained glass strictly designed in accordance with the original drawings, but the craftsmanship also has to be "renovated to look like the old". In addition, the manufacturing of glazed tiles and floor tiles also requires a lot of ingenuity, some of which are fired in foreign countries. The stone for the marble chandelier is sourced from Italy. The copper brackets are made using ancient bronze craftsmanship. The Italian engineers at the decoration site all do it themselves. operational. PRADA should invest heavily in the renovation of Rong Zhai. PRADA’s flagship store in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and its Venice flagship store are also examples of the combination of old building restoration and fashion brands. Since 2017, the restored PRADA Rongzhai has been open to the public by holding art exhibitions every year. It has always been the most popular internet celebrity check-in spot for young literary and artistic people.

My curiosity about Rong's residence came from a citywalk called "The End of Romance" by Scarecrow Travel. I learned that this was once the residence of Rong Zongjing, the "flour king" and one of the important figures in China's national industry at that time. However, since there are no exhibitions on weekdays, there are few opportunities to visit. I have been looking forward to the new exhibition "Promise" in Rong's House. I will take this opportunity to appreciate the new art while feeling the history of the old-fashioned architecture. From the perspective of Michaël Borremans' solo exhibition "Promise", there are not many works as a whole, and they are distributed in different rooms on the three floors of Rong House. The exhibition experience is still good. It is also easy to take pictures with few people, especially combined with the style of the old house. Some chill outfits are easier to capture the feeling of old money style. 📍Address: Prada Rong House 🎫Tickets: 60/person ⏱️《Promise》Exhibition period: April 9 to June 9, 2024, 10:00-18:00 Closed on Mondays

On one side of Nanjing West Road is modern commerce, while on the other side is Shanghai's century-old architecture. Turn a corner and you enter the courtyard of Rong House. The modern art deco style white house is very elegant, appearing suddenly without any shock, like an old friend you haven't seen for many years, a familiar and comfortable taste. Only after waiting quietly in the house for 10 minutes did I realize that I hadn't yet left the hustle and bustle of Nanjing Road, and slowly began to marvel at the details of the house. The combination of Chinese and Western grapefruit wood carvings, the tireless mosaic patchwork, each piece of glass has a different artistic pattern.. At present, there are no exhibitions, only the second and third floors on one side are open, and when there are exhibition periods, you can appreciate more areas of the house. Remember to make a special trip to the toilet, the art glass ceiling in the corridor is very stunning. I think the simplest way to experience the quality of any space is to go to the toilet You can get a cup of Prada coffee and sit down to slowly experience the magic of this residence.

roasted lamb

The Rongzhai House on the northwest road of Shanghai and Shaanxi is the home of Rong Zongjing, the Flour King of Shanghai Beach. It has been built for more than 100 years and is known as the most elegant and well-preserved garden house in Shanghai. In 2011, PRADA began repairing Rong's old house and it took a full six years to officially start. Although PRADA, a fashion brand of local tyrants, has her commercial considerations, her respect and dedication to historical and cultural heritage still has to be greatly appreciated. Garden house, the choice of clothing for the model is very important. It is recommended that dignified, retro clothing, cheongsam should be the most suitable. It is advisable to take a picture of the environment, or to focus on some details. Because the light inside the house is relatively dark, you can find some windows to shoot with natural light.

The white building itself will shine, and the blessing of the glory is even more accent. I have seen history and know that this century-old house was purchased by the Germans in 1918. From the downstairs to the upstairs, there are still quite a lot of people, and there are many rooms. Many glasses are very beautiful. The old wood exudes the taste of history. After more than six years of renovation, many of them have restored history on the largest basis. Now I am working with the most unfavourable fashion brands, combining old and new and feeling extraordinary. There are a lot of ready-to-wear and shoes and hats on the second floor. Just look at it. Looking out from the window upstairs, a large piece of grass is maintained neatly, and the view of the super rich family is purple. Delayed to the 17th, have not been to have a time to grab a look ~!

There is a century-old house on the northwest road of Shanghai and Shaanxi, called Rongzhai. One hundred years ago, "Flour King" Rong Zongjing bought the garden house and spent ten years connecting the old building with the four-storey annex. In 2011, Prada rented the old house, and repairing the old preserved the appearance of the former residence! A few days ago, I went to Rongye with my friend to see Liu Yes solo exhibition. I found that Rongchengs house was so good! ! It's easy to take retro-style photos, and it's also very suitable for girls' photo shoots. It's a relatively small place in Shanghai~ Recommend to friends who come to Shanghai on New Year's Day!