Former Site of the British Hankow Ice Works

Former Site of the British Hankow Ice Works

The former site of the British Hankow Ice Works is a cultural relic protection unit of Hubei Province.

Former Site of the British Hankow Ice Works

Located on Yuefei Street in Jiang’an District, Wuhan, it was built in 1904 as a residence for French expatriates and was transferred to the Hankow Ice Works in 1907, after which it was renovated. The two-story brick-and-wood structure covers a construction area of 1,286 square meters. With a Baroque architectural style, its balconies and window sills project in semicircular shapes, and the overall form features undulating, wave-like curves. It is an outstanding example of industrial heritage architecture in Wuhan. (Fifth Batch)

In 1891, British businessmen Kesan and Keluqi jointly invested 200,000 yuan to establish a machine-made ice factory at the intersection of Zhongshan Avenue and Yuefei Street in Hankou, within the French Concession. Named Hankow Ice Works, its Chinese name was “和利冰厂” (Heli Ice Works). This was the first machine-made ice factory in old Hankou.

In 1920, Kesan purchased a large plot of land east of the factory and founded the “Heli Soda Water Factory,” producing “Heli-brand” soda water. Both “Heli Ice” and “Heli Soda Water” once almost monopolized the national market for cold beverages.

The former site of the British Hankow Ice Works features a milky-white exterior wall and a two-story brick-and-wood structure covering 1,286 square meters, in the Renaissance style. The building’s façade has a symmetrical layout, with partial external corridors on the second floor and arched bay windows at both ends. The balconies and window sills project in semicircular shapes, and the overall form features undulating, wave-like curves outlined by horizontal lines, presenting a rather concise and refined appearance. The entrance is topped with a portico porch that connects seamlessly with the railing of the rooftop parapet.

Source: Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units