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A Complex of Modern Banking Buildings in Xijiaominxiang

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Walking south along the West Side Road of Tiananmen Square, you’ll come across a relatively narrow alley — this is Xijiaominxiang. In the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, because the adjacent Dongjiaominxiang was a hub for foreign banks, Chinese-capital banks that were gradually emerging chose to set up their institutions in Xijiaominxiang, located to its west...

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The A Complex of Modern Banking Buildings in Xijiaominxiang is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Walking south along the West Side Road of Tiananmen Square, you’ll come across a relatively narrow alley — this is Xijiaominxiang. In the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, because the adjacent Dongjiaominxiang was a hub for foreign banks, Chinese-capital banks that were gradually emerging chose to set up their institutions in Xijiaominxiang, located to its west.

Today, this former “financial street” has shifted from bustling activity to tranquility. Several grand modern buildings stand as evidence of its past prosperity.

The former site of the Continental Bank is located at the eastern entrance of Xijiaominxiang. The building has four floors above ground and one underground, and is considered one of the highest-quality examples of a Western classical-style structure designed by Chinese architects. The interior is currently under renovation, with modern chandeliers installed on the ceiling, giving the space a high-end feel. Staff mentioned that the area will be used as a dedicated space for premium banking clients in the future. Most of the windows and doors of the former Continental Bank have been replaced, with some now featuring plastic-steel windows.

Adjacent to the Continental Bank is the former site of the Bank of China Merchants, which has been converted into the China Numismatic Museum. Compared to the Continental Bank next door, the original architectural features here have been better preserved. The windows are still wooden, and traces of the old “diagonal cross” paper tape affixed to the glass can still be seen. The current admission fee to the China Numismatic Museum is 10 yuan, and visitor numbers are low.

In May 2013, the A Complex of Modern Banking Buildings in Xijiaominxiang was listed as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.