Du escaped to Hong Kong after the Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan in 1949 following their defeat by the Communists. Tales on Du's finances and power during this period vary largely — some argued that he lived in practical squalor while others said he had built up a sizable nest egg. As he gradually became blind and possibly senile, Du decided it was safe to move back to China in 1951.
Du fled to Hong Kong after the Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan in 1949 following their defeat by the Communists. Accounts of Du's finances and power during this time differ greatly — some claimed he lived in basic conditions while others believed he had amassed a substantial fortune. As his vision gradually declined and possibly his mental acuity, Du decided it was safe to return to China in 1951.