Former Site of the Bank of China Merchandise

Former Site of the Bank of China Merchandise

The former site of the Bank of China Merchandise is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Jiangsu Province.

The former site of the Bank of China Merchandise is located at No. 19 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province (originally No. 9 Zhongshan Road).

It now serves as the Xinjiekou Branch of the Nanjing Post Office. The Bank of China Merchandise was founded by Kong Xiangxi and Song Ziwen as a jointly operated government-private bank. Together with the China Merchants Bank, the Siming Commercial Savings Bank, and the Bank of China Industry, it was known as the "Little Four Banks." In addition to handling commercial banking services such as deposits, loans, remittances, and trusts, it also engaged in investment ventures. The construction of the bank building began in 1934, started in April 1935, and was completed in January 1936. The building has six floors above ground and one basement, with a reinforced concrete structure, flat roof, and covers a land area of 1,920 square meters. Including its auxiliary buildings, the total floor area is 4,022 square meters. At the time, it was the tallest building in Nanjing.

The head office of the Bank of China Merchandise was located in Shanghai and was established on November 1, 1929. A branch was set up in Nanjing on December 1, 1930, which was upgraded to a Nanjing branch in July of the following year. On November 24, 1937, it relocated to Wuhan and then moved to Shanghai in May 1938. After the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan, it returned to its original location on Zhongshan Road in Nanjing. It ceased operations in June 1949. The building faces east, with a symmetrical façade. The entrance features a porch with eight square concrete columns, topped with a stone balcony railing, and resting on pedestals that imitate stone bases. The exterior walls are clad in artificial stone. The overall façade of the building is dignified and solid, featuring characteristics of modern architecture. The design employs modern architectural layout and trapezoidal composition, with key sections emphasizing traditional Chinese structural decorations complemented by appropriate classical patterns. The ground floor contains the main hall, including banking counters, the manager’s office, and a reception room. Floors two through five share the same layout, with a central atrium for natural lighting, surrounded by interior corridors and offices.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Sites in Jiangsu Province