Page 128 - JCAU-6-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Bank of China’s modern buildings

Bank of the Qing Dynasty branches were restructured into seeking funds for military expenses and campaigns.
Bank of China branches. This situation hindered, to a certain extent, the normal
operations and performance of the Bank of China’s
3.2. Rising period: The central bank of Nanjing branches. However, in the 1920s, the Bank of China
Provisional Government and the Northern Warlord introduced the concept of “regional banks,” which were
Government (1912–1918)
responsible for overseeing the operation and issuance
After the Xinhai Revolution (1911), the Northern Warlord of all branches, offices, and tax collection centers within
Government emerged as the actual central government, their districts. They managed inter-branch relations
with the Bank of China retaining its status as the national within their districts, while branches outside the district
bank. However, during these turbulent times, the Bank of fell under the direct jurisdiction of the head office. From
China became the favored source of revenue for warlords 1912 to 1928, the Bank of China, relying on institutional
reforms and business adjustments, effectively fulfilled its
central banking functions and played a significant role
in countering foreign banks and stabilizing the financial
system.

3.3. Transition period: The International Exchange
Bank (1928–1949)
In October 1928, the National Government established
a new central bank, leading to the reorganization of the
Bank of China as a “government-chartered international
exchange bank” with a focus on foreign exchange operations.
In 1929, the Bank of China established a manager’s office
in London, setting a precedent for Chinese financial
Figure 3. Thematic framework for value interpretation. Source: Drawing institutions to open branches in the global financial hub.
by Jun Wang This office became a vital center for the centralized transfer

Figure 4. General analytical framework. Source: Drawing by Jun Wang
Volume 6 Issue 2 (2024) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2166