[4] Born in Chuansha to a devout Christian family on 22 June 1869, she was the 17th-generation descendant of Xu Guangqi, the Ming Dynasty scholar and astronomer who played a pivotal role in introducing Western science and Catholicism to China.

[4] Ni was among the first women in Shanghai to receive a modern education, attending the McTyeire School for Girls, a pioneering institution founded by American missionaries.

Fluent in English, skilled in mathematics, and musically talented, she defied traditional gender norms, notably refraining from the practice of foot-binding.

[5] As a mother, Ni Guizhen was celebrated for her rigorous yet nurturing approach to raising six children, including the illustrious Soong sisters—Ai-ling, Ching-ling, and May-ling—and three sons, two of whom held prominent roles in the Republic of China's government.

[7] In June 1915, Soong Ching-ling returned to Shanghai to seek her parents' permission to marry Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Republic of China.

[4] On 23 July, upon hearing news of an attempted assassination of her son, T. V. Soong, at Shanghai North Railway Station, Ni suffered a stroke and died.

Hu Ruoyu and Shen Honglie hosted two major public mourning ceremonies on Zhongshan Road, on behalf of the Municipal Government of Qingdao and the Northeast Fleet.