Revitalized former residence of Rewi Alley now a landmark of internationalism

At Lane 1315 Yuyuan Road, a three-story Western-style building made of brick, wood, and concrete is not only the place where the New Zealander Rewi Alley lived for many years but has also become an important landmark for promoting internationalism.

On April 21, 1927, Alley arrived in Shanghai with only enough living expenses to sustain him for a few weeks. While working as a fire inspector for the Shanghai Municipal Council in the International Settlement, he witnessed the harsh conditions of child laborers in silk reeling factories, who stood barefoot in front of roaring boilers for 12 hours a day. This experience strengthened his determination to bring about fundamental change for the underprivileged in China, and from then on, Shanghai became his second home.

From 1932 to 1937, Alley resided at Building 4 Lane 1315 Yuyuan Road. This residence was not only his living space but also a "stronghold" for secret revolutionary work, with a covert radio station set up on the top floor. Using his position in the Municipal Council, he provided cover for underground Communist Party members, procured supplies for the Red Army, facilitated the transfer of personnel and weapons, and distributed secret printed materials, earning him the title of a "loyal friend" of the Chinese revolution.

In 2021, the building was included in the first list of revolutionary cultural relics in Shanghai. In 2022, Changning District carried out a restoration project for Alley’s former residence, which opened to the public in December of the same year.

The restored residence recreates the scene of Alley’s living room during his time there. Bookshelves, a writing desk, an armchair, and other furnishings are all styled according to the 1920s–1930s aesthetic. The space also houses some precious exhibits, including the typewriter Alley used to complete his “Selected Poems of Rewi Alley” and various travel reports, signed books, personal family letters, and a small portable vacuum tube transceiver, among other artifacts.