Soong Mei-ling is one of the most influential Chinese women of the 20th century.[Photo/IC]

The former residence of Madame Soong Mei-ling in a Long Island suburb of New York City is set to be sold for $ 11.8 million, with 7 Chinese buyers showing interest the day it went on the market, July 28.

Property agent Jason Friedman is in charge of selling the house that was owned by one of the most influential Chinese women of the 20th century, and so far he has received at least 50 enquiring calls, 48 of them are from Chinese people.

"For a property at such a price (over $10 million), this is rare", said Jason.

The property on sale now, which was renovated in 2002, is one of three houses at Soong's old residence. The grounds cover 12 acres and the house has nine bedrooms, nine full bathrooms, four half-baths, a golf course and a swimming pool.

"Except for the house and the swimming pool, everything remains the same as it used to be when Soong lived here, including the wooden cottage, bamboo woods and the garden", said Friedman, who further explained that the historical significance of the house outweighs the property itself. For American buyers, it is just a pretty house, but for Chinese people, its historical value makes it more attractive.

After her husband, Chiang Kai-shek died in 1975, Soong moved to America and lived here for 20 years before moving to an apartment in Manhattan.