The Donghu Hotel consisting of seven villas on both sides of Donghu Lu. There are many legendary stories about it, which makes the tree-and-greenery-surrounded place mysterious to the locals.

Built in 1934, the linked No. 1 and No. 2 buildings were once the residence of Du Yuesheng, Old Shanghai's godfather.

The building, located in the former French Concession, absorbed architectural styles both of courtyards of Southern China and elegant French villas.

Du had planned to arrange for his four wives to stay in the building, but during the anti-Japanese war he was forced to flee to Hong Kong.

He later sold the building to the American Consulate General for US$600,000.

The 7 Club of the French style completed in 1925 was located in a triangular garden, and was highly protected by the municipal government. The other buildings were old apartments built in the 1920s and 1930s.

( Shanghai Star July 10, 2002)