Former Site of the Hankou Branch of the Asiatic Petroleum Company

Former Site of the Hankou Branch of the Asiatic Petroleum Company

The former site of the Hankou Branch of the Asiatic Petroleum Company is a cultural relic protection unit of Hubei Province.

Former Site of the Hankou Branch of the Asiatic Petroleum Company

Located at No. 1 Tianjin Road, Jiang’an District, Wuhan, it was built between 1924 and 1925, designed by the British firm H. M. Williamson & Co. and constructed by the Wei Qingji Construction Company, featuring European Renaissance Classical style. The British Asiatic Petroleum Company established its China headquarters in Shanghai in 1890. In 1912, it set up a branch in Hankou. After the Pearl Harbor incident, the building was used by the Japanese army to detain prisoners. The site covers an area of 900 square meters and is a five-story reinforced concrete structure. Its façade is divided into three horizontal sections, decorated with Western-style quoins and Chinese patterns. The exterior walls mimic rough-hewn stone, with cornerstones at the wall edges. The cornice decorations and balcony details retain traces of traditional Chinese craftsmanship. This site is a representative example of early modern architecture in Hankou and an important commercial building from the Republican era in the city.

Source: Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units