Along the route of Xinzha Road to Yuyuan Road, including Xinyuan, Hatong Garden, Youcunlu, Tianyou College, and Hairilou, we can trace Kang Youwei’s footprints in Shanghai during his later years. Taking Kang’s presence in Shanghai as a turning point, his life underwent three transformations: first, striving for the great harmony; second, entering the global stage; third, embarking on a celestial journey. The pleasures derived from the artistic world, the world of daily life, and the scientific world during his celestial journey endowed his life with freedom, unrestrainedness, vitality, and richness. His travels with his son, frequent daily interactions, and in-depth academic discussions forged a remarkable partnership with Shen Zengzhi in the field of stele calligraphy. This also inspired his disciples such as Xu Beihong and Liu Haisu to blend the ancient with the new, thereby paving the way for the modernization of Chinese art. In his later years, Kang Youwei and the Shanghai scholarly circle integrated Eastern and Western elements, as well as old and new ideas, creating a splendid and profound realm of “Shanghai Studies”.

Kang Youwei, Shen Zengzhi, shanghai scholarly circle, tianyou