A villa nicknamed the "richest building" in Shinan district, Qingdao is carpeted with verdant Boston ivy. [Photo/Guanhai News]

At the intersection of No 18 Taipingjiao First Road and No 2 Zhanshan Third Road in Shinan district, Qingdao stand two century-old villas.

The iconic villas are hidden in lush pines and cypresses and their red roofs are carpeted with verdant Boston ivy.

The villa near Zhanshan Third Road spans about 208 square meters and was built in 1928. Its first owner was Wang Minsheng, who was the richest person in Shandong during that time. Therefore, the villa received the "richest villa" nickname. 

The other villa was around 190 square meters, and it was constructed in 1930. A priest from the United States was its first owner. The house was designed by a French architect, therefore it has a distinctly French aesthetic. 

A year ago, as Qingdao began to embrace the trend of revitalizing old town neighborhoods, No 18 Taipingjiao Art Center gave the old structures a fresh look. 

The current villa owner, Lyu Jiayi, had a vision of creating an immersive art gallery in a villa that resembled a garden.

The planning and restoration took over five months and the first exhibition Be a child was introduced to the public in October 2021.

Numerous artistic events encompassing fine arts, drama, music, and more have been held here since the illustration exhibition, which attracted thousands of visitors. There are also plans to build a cafe, a gallery, and a teahouse in the villas to attract more young people.

We will uphold the concept of respecting and protecting history to revitalize the old buildings, according to the art center's management team.