Former Site of Yangzhou Flour Mill

Former Site of Yangzhou Flour Mill

The former site of the Yangzhou Flour Mill is a protected cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province.

The former site of the Yangzhou Flour Mill is located at No. 2 Gaqiaonan Street on the west bank of the ancient canal outside Bianyimen. It was built in the 1930s. The Yangzhou Flour Mill is a witness to the rise of modern industry in Yangzhou and is commonly referred to as one of the “two and a half early factories” of the city. The building features a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles, faces south, and is constructed of brick and wood, spanning nine bays in width and four in depth. Preserved on-site is a German Siemens generator that was used by the mill. This building is the only remaining example of modern industrial heritage in Yangzhou.

The flour mill is situated at No. 2 Gaqiaonan Street on the west bank of the ancient canal outside Bianyimen. Its predecessor was the Gaoyou Yuheng Flour Mill, established in the 32nd year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1906). In 1931, due to flooding in Gaoyou, the owner surnamed Dai relocated the mill to Yangzhou and renamed it Xingji Co., Ltd. of Yangzhou Flour Mill. A five-story brick-and-wood factory building was constructed, which at the time was the tallest structure in Yangzhou. During the Anti-Japanese War, the mill was controlled by the Japanese invaders and used to grind military provisions.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Yangzhou Flour Mill became a leading producer in the city’s flour and grain industry. In September 1954, following the public-private partnership reform, the enterprise significantly expanded in scale. In 1983, the mill’s Lüshoutao-brand standard flour and special flour were respectively recognized as quality-assured products by the Ministry of Commerce and as high-quality products of Jiangsu Province. In 2001, the original factory building was renovated and repurposed as the Yangzhou Industrial Museum.

In December 2011, the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government designated it as part of the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural heritage protection units.

Further Reading:

· List of the Fourth Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites in Yangzhou

· Seventh Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites in Jiangsu Province