Shanghai Changning Children's Palace, Cultural heritage building in Changning District, China

The Shanghai Changning Children's Palace is a large mansion featuring European architectural design with approximately 40 rooms, marble columns, and Gothic arches inside. The property includes an expansive garden in the Chinese style, complete with streams, bridges, and small pavilions spread throughout the grounds.

The building was constructed between 1932 and 1934 as a residence for Wang Boqun, a government official of the Kuomintang. Following its initial use, it served as a prison and later as a diplomatic building before becoming an educational institution in 1960.

The building has housed the Changning District Children's Palace since 1960, and its over 40 rooms are used for art, music and dance lessons. The name change marks the shift from a private mansion to a public children's centre. A 120-year-old southern magnolia still stands on the lawn, and a large stone at the garden entrance was brought by train from Guizhou, Wang Boqun's home province.

The palace sits at No. 31, Lane 1136, Yuyuan Road, in the Jiangsu Road Subdistrict of Changning District, not on Changning Road. The 5,000-square-metre garden and the 120-year-old southern magnolia on the lawn are visible from the grounds. Because the rooms host art, music and dance classes, visitors should confirm access before arriving.

The large stone at the garden entrance was carried by train from Guizhou province, Wang Boqun's home region, so he could keep a piece of home in Shanghai. The garden once held streams, bridges and pavilions; a southern magnolia on the lawn is said to be 120 years old.