Work will start later this month to inscribe on stone plaques the tourism guides and maps for five historic villas in Xinhepu, Dongshan District.

Community officials will spend 30,000 yuan (US$3,630) on the plaques in a bid to get the villas included in the one-day tour around Guangzhou.

Officials say the villas are important because they housed important historical figures and groups. They are among the more than 300 historic villas in Dongshan District built by returned overseas Chinese in the 19th century.

The Chunyuan Villas, three neighboring brick-and-concrete apartment buildings, were used as the Communist Party of China's office buildings after the Party moved its headquarters from Shanghai to Guangzhou in 1923. The Party also held its third general assembly at the venue.

The Jianyuan Villa has fountains and gardens in front of the European-style building. Tobacco tycoon Jian Qinshi built the villas, which were once used as the German Consulate and the late Kuomintang senior official Tan Yankai's residence.

Wu Jingying, who had studied in Britain and the United States during the early 19th century, designed the Ouyuan Villas, which combine British and Chinese styles. Wu was the chief warship designer for the Canton fleet after it was established in 1925.

The Mingyuan Villas house two three-storied buildings featuring Roman-style corridors.

The Kuiyuan Villa was built by Chinese-American Ma Zhuowen in 1922.
 
(Shenzhen Daily July 6, 2005)