Former Site of Tongyi Public Cotton Mill

Former Site of Tongyi Public Cotton Mill

The Former Site of Tongyi Public Cotton Mill is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Former Site of Tongyi Public Cotton Mill (Provincial-level Cultural Relics Protection Unit)

Era: Modern

Listed: March 16, 2005

The Tongyi Public Cotton Mill was initially constructed in the 22nd year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1896) and was completed the next year. It was proposed and financed through shares pooled by Pang Yuanji, a prominent tycoon from Nanxun, together with wealthy individuals from Hangzhou such as Ding Bing and Wang Zhenyuan. The planning began as early as the 15th year of the Guangxu reign (1889), taking eight years before construction finally commenced. Due to poor management, the mill ceased operations in 1902. Li Jingfang, son of Li Hongzhang, invested in the mill through an intermediary named Gao Yicheng. In August 1903, the mill was restructured and renamed the New Company of Tongyi Public Cotton Mill, later changed to Dingxin Textile Joint Stock Company. After several changes in ownership and name, it was renamed Hangzhou No. 1 Cotton Mill in 1956, retaining its original function and operating continuously to this day. The Tongyi Public Cotton Mill was one of the three largest, most advanced, and most socially influential modern cotton textile factories funded by national capital in Zhejiang Province at that time. It serves as a physical testament to the establishment and development of Hangzhou’s modern ethnic light textile industry, as well as a “cornerstone” in the formation and growth of the industrial district in Gongshu. The surviving factory buildings and other architectural remains are representative of Hangzhou’s late Qing and Republican-era industrial architecture and hold significant research value.

Source: Zhejiang Cultural Relics Website

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units