The former site of Sulong Cotton Mill

The former site of Sulong Cotton Mill

The former site of Sulong Cotton Mill is a cultural relic protection unit of Suzhou.

The former site of Sulong Cotton Mill is located at No. 239 Renmin Road, dating back to the 1930s–1980s.

In the 21st year of the Guangxu reign (1895), Zhang Zhidong, Viceroy of Liangjiang and Minister of Commerce for the Southern Seas, redirected 547,600 taels of silver (originally intended for military expenses in the First Sino-Japanese War) that the Qing government had borrowed from merchants and civilians in Suzhou and four other prefectures to establish the Suzhou Commercial Bureau-run Sujing-Sulong Joint Stock Company. Lu Runxiang, then in mourning at home and serving as the National University Chancellor, was appointed as the company’s general director to oversee its establishment. The factory was built on vacant official land outside Panmen Gate and began production in July of the 23rd year of Guangxu (1897), employing 2,200 workers with an annual output of about 14,000 bales of coarse yarn. The Sulong Cotton Mill holds an important place in the history of modern Chinese industry.

Zhang Zhidong (1837–1909), courtesy name Xiaoda, also known by his art names Xiangtao, Xiangyan, Yigong, and Wujing Jushi, and in his later years as Baobing. An ethnic Han from Nanpi, Zhili (modern-day Nanpi, Hebei Province) during the Qing Dynasty, he was one of the representatives of the Westernization Movement. His principle of "Chinese learning for fundamental principles and Western learning for practical application" was a summary and encapsulation of the basic platforms of the Westernization Movement and early reformists. Mao Zedong spoke highly of his contributions to advancing the development of China's national industry, once stating, "When it comes to China’s national industry, heavy industry cannot forget Zhang Zhidong." Zhang Zhidong is often mentioned alongside Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang, and Zuo Zongtang... More details about Zhang Zhidong ++

Lu Runxiang (1841–1915)

A late Qing Dynasty official. Courtesy name Fengshi. Native of Yuanhe (now Wu County), Jiangsu Province. Zhuangyuan (top imperial examination scholar) in the Tongzhi era, appointed as a compiler. In the early Guangxu era, he was repeatedly in charge of imperial examinations. Later, he was appointed as the Education Commissioner of Shandong, then promoted to National University Chancellor and supervised imperial examinations in Jiangxi. Due to his mother’s illness, he returned to Suzhou and took charge of Suzhou’s commerce. In 1896, he raised funds to establish the Sulong Cotton Mill in Suzhou, and soon after also set up the Sujing Silk Mill, which began operations the following year before being leased to merchants. In 1898, he was appointed as an Inner Cabinet Scholar and Acting Vice Minister of Works. Later, he was named Vice Minister of Rites and served as a lecturer at the Imperial Lecture Court. Soon after, he was promoted to Left Censor-in-Chief and managed the Medical Bureau... More details about Lu Runxiang ++