Former Site of the Hankou Branch of the Bank of Shanghai

Former Site of the Hankou Branch of the Bank of Shanghai

The former site of the Hankou Branch of the Bank of Shanghai is a cultural relic protection unit of Hubei Province.

Former Site of the Hankou Branch of the Bank of Shanghai

Located at No. 60 Jianghan Road, Jiang’an District, Wuhan City, it was built in 1923, designed by the architectural firm San Yi Foreign Firm, and constructed by the Shanghai San He Xing Construction Company. The Bank of Shanghai Commercial Savings Bank (commonly referred to as the Bank of Shanghai) established an agency office in Hankou in 1919, which was reorganized into a branch the following year. This historic site covers an area of 590 square meters, features a reinforced concrete structure, and exhibits a classical architectural style with four floors above ground and one basement level. Its exterior features carved marble decorative gates and walls, with a five-bay façade. The first floor has arched windows and doors with marble walls, while the second and third floors are adorned with cylindrical decorations between the central windows. The Hankou Branch of the Bank of Shanghai was an important financial institution during the Republican era in Hankou, and this historic site is also one of the representative examples of modern architecture in Hankou.

In 1917, Zhou Cangbai, born into a prominent industrial and commercial family in Wuhan, returned from studying in the United States and joined the Bank of Shanghai Commercial Savings Bank. In 1918, he personally selected the site in Hankou and oversaw the construction of the Bank of Shanghai Hankou Branch building. The building was designed by British architects from the architectural firm Jing Ming Foreign Firm and is a typical example of neoclassical architecture—majestic and symmetrical—with white granite carved decorative gates and walls, and entrance steps made of white marble.

The first floor features arched windows and doors with marble walls; the front of the second and third floors is supported by six Roman columns, with balustraded pediments serving as architectural decorations. Particularly impressive is the fact that the interior of the first-floor lobby is entirely clad in white marble, giving the entire building a grand and elegant atmosphere that blends 18th-century Baroque and 19th-century neoclassical styles.

Amidst the turbulent political situation, the Hankou Branch of the Bank of Shanghai, under Zhou Cangbai’s leadership, consistently maintained its credibility and became the most influential bank in the Hankou area. During his tenure as bank president, he also developed the “Haiguang Farm.” After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, he donated it to the state, and it became the predecessor of today’s East Lake Scenic Area.

Source: Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units