{{Short description|Villa in Nanjing, China}} {{Infobox building | name = Meiling Palace<br/><small>National Government Chairman Residence</small> | native_name = 美齡宮<br/><small>国民政府主席官邸</small> | image = Mei-ling Villa, Nov 2017 (2).jpg | image_size = | image_alt = Front view of the villa | image_caption = View of the villa | coordinates = {{coord|32.045479|118.846507|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | architectural_style = Chinese | address = No. 9 Zhongshanling, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China | years_built = | groundbreaking_date = | construction_start_date = | construction_stop_date = | topped_out_date = | completion_date = 1934 | opened_date = | inauguration_date = | relocated_date = | renovation_date = | closing_date = | demolished_date = | cost = | owner = | height = | material = Brick | size = | floor_count = 2 + basement and mezzanine | floor_area = c.2000 m<sup>2</sup> | architect = | architecture_firm = | parking = | public_transit = Metro Line 2 to Xiamafang Station, exit 2; bus 34 to Bo'aiyuan<ref name="travelchina" /> | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | references = | footnotes = }}{{Infobox Chinese | s = 美龄宮 | t = 美齡宮 | p = Měilínggōng | j = mei5 ling4 gung1 | mi = {{IPAc-cmn|m|ei|3|.|l|ing|2|.|g|ong|1}} | ci = {{IPAc-yue|m|ei|5|.|l|ing|4|.|g|ung|1}} | w = {{tonesup|Mei3-ling2-kung1}} | bpmf = ㄇㄟˇ ㄌㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄥ | y = Méihlìhnggūng | altname = National Government Chairman Residence | s2 = 国民政府主席官邸 | t2 = 國民政府主席官邸 | p2 = Guómín Zhèngfǔ Zhǔxí Guāndǐ | w2 = {{tonesup|Kuo2-min2 Cheng4-fu3 Chu3-hsi2 Kuan1-ti3}} | bpmf2 = ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄓㄥˋ ㄈㄨˇ ㄓㄨˇ ㄒㄧˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄉㄧˇ | mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|g|uo|2|.|m|in|2|-|zh|eng|4|.|f|u|3|-|zh|u|3|.|x|i|2|-|g|uan|1|.|d|i|3}} | y2 = Gwokmàhn Jingfú Jyújihk Gūndái | j2 = gwok3 man4 zing3 fu2 zyu2 zik6 gun1 dai2 | ci2 = {{IPAc-yue|gw|ok|3|.|m|an|4|-|z|ing|3|.|f|u|2|-|z|yu|2|.|z|ik|6|-|g|un|1|.|d|ai|2}} }} '''Meiling Palace''' ({{zh|美齡宮}}, aka '''Meiling Villa''' and '''Meiling Gong''') is a large villa in Nanjing, China, built by the chairman of the Chinese National Government, Chiang Kai-Shek, for his wife, Soong Meiling. It is known formally as the '''National Government Chairman Residence''' ({{zh|国民政府主席官邸}}).<ref name="travelchina">{{cite web| url=https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/jiangsu/nanjing/meiling-palace.htm | title=Meiling Palace | website=Travel China Guide | accessdate=30 September 2023 }}</ref>
The villa is located below Purple Mountain, about 6 km from Nanjing's city centre in the Zhongshan Mountain Scenic Area.<ref name="china-travel-guide">{{cite web| url=https://www.china-travel-guide.net/attraction/nanjing/meiling-palace/ | title=Meiling Palace, Nanjing, China | website=China Travel Guide | accessdate=30 September 2023 }}</ref> It is the largest villa in Nanjing, with a floor area of more than 2,000 m<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="travelchina" />
Meiling Palace was completed in 1934, as a residence for the chairman of the Chinese National Government.<ref name="travelchina" /> Chiang Kai-Shek gave the mansion to his wife on her birthday, 4 March, and the couple moved there in summer 1936.<ref name="Pantsov223">{{cite book| title=Victorious in Defeat: The Life and Times of Chiang Kai-shek, China, 1887–1975 | first=Alexander V. | last=Pantsov | isbn=978-0300271690 | publisher=Yale University Press | date=2023 | chapter=Chapter 11 – For a New Life! | page=201 }}</ref> Later it was used as a base for officials visiting the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, located nearby. After the end of the war between China and Japan in 1946, the National Government moved back to Nanjing and Chiang Kai-Shek used this villa as his official residence.
thumb|left|upright|Room inside the villa The exterior of the villa was built in a traditional Chinese style with double eaves and a roof of green glazed tiles.<ref name="travelchina" /> There are more than a thousand phoenixes carved on the roof tiles. The Chinese artist Chen Zhifo (1896–1962) painted the eaves with birds and flowers. Viewed from above, the trees surrounding the villa are in the form of a necklace. The interior was in a western style.
The building has two main storeys, a basement, and a mezzanine between the first and second floors. In the basement, there is an exhibition of paintings by Soong Meiling.<ref name="lonelyplanet">{{cite web| url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/jiangsu/nanjing/attractions/meiling-palace/a/poi-sig/1627726/356022 | title=Meiling Palace | website=Lonely Planet | accessdate=30 September 2023 }}</ref> On the second floor, there is a private chapel.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commonscat|Meiling Gong}} * On YouTube: ** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-co2qaP9Lc Drone footage captures views of China Meiling Palace] by the South China Morning Post ** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rpub0GaowU Aerial view of Mei-ling Palace in Nanjing] by Oriental Image ** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSZgKYgpH3M Meiling Palace in Nanjing] – tour of the villa {{in lang|zh}}
Category:1934 establishments in China Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1934 Category:Museums with year of establishment missing Category:Tourist attractions in Nanjing Category:Museums in Nanjing Category:Official residences in China Category:Historic house museums in China Category:Palaces in China Category:Villas Category:Brick buildings and structures Category:1934 in Nanjing
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