Former Site of Qiji Machine Works

Former Site of Qiji Machine Works

The Former Site of Qiji Machine Works is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Jiangsu Province.

At No. 358 Yanling East Road, within the tall walls of CRRC Qishuyan Locomotive Co., Ltd. (i.e., Qiji Machine Works), stands a three-story Western-style building. Locally called the “Old Third Building” or the Republican-era Office Building, it was constructed by the Japanese in 1941. Along with old machinery and equipment such as the assembly workshop, combined shearing and punching machines, and spike forging machines, it is collectively referred to as the “Former Site of Qiji Machine Works,” bearing witness to a chapter of Wujin’s history during the War of Resistance against Japan.

The Republican-era Office Building is situated in the southeastern part of the current factory area. It was built by the Japanese army in 1941, and successive Japanese factory directors worked here after its completion. After the liberation, it became known as the “Old Third Building.” With a construction area of 611.5 square meters, the building features red brick walls and an approximately L-shaped floor plan, with a fan-shaped entrance on the southeastern side. The main structure has two stories, while the southeastern section has three. Several square firing loopholes are installed below the windows on the second and third floors on the eastern and southern sides to enhance security. In addition, the Former Site of Qiji Machine Works preserves several pieces of historic machinery: a combined shearing and punching machine manufactured in the UK in 1906, and a spike forging machine made in the UK in 1929.

In 2008, the Republican-era architectural complex of Qiji Machine Works was designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage site by the Changzhou Municipal People’s Government; in 2011, the Former Site of Qiji Machine Works was listed as a provincial-level cultural heritage site by the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites