Page 130 - JCAU-6-2

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

1843, Shanghai had risen to become the foremost internal A B
trade port, surpassing Guangzhou (Wu, 2002). This
transformation gave rise to a cross-regional and national
financial industry, culminating in the establishment of the
Bank of China’s inaugural office in February 1912 at the
former site of the Bank of the Qing Dynasty, located at
No. 50, Hankou Road, Shanghai (Figure 7).

However, under the dominance of the Northern Warlord
Government, northern China emerged as a vast arena for
financial activities. This shift propelled the financial hub Figure 7. The former site of the Bank of Qing Dynasty in Shanghai, where
the Bank of China opened on February 5, 1912. (A) Historic Images. (B)
of northern China, anchored around Tianjin–Beijing, Current appearance (2022). Source: (A) Photo by the Party History Office
to rapidly surpass Shanghai, thus becoming the nation’s of the Bank of China; (B) Photo by Xiaofan Du
financial epicenter. It was not until the fall of the Northern
Warlord Government in 1927 that the National Government resulted in the disappearance of most structures once used
of Nanjing established the central bank in Shanghai and by the Bank of China. Through our field research, we have
relocated the head offices of the Bank of China and the Bank identified 26 modern buildings associated with the Bank of
of Communications to Shanghai. This marked the renewal China that hold historical significance and stand as relics
shift of the financial center to the southern regions. of the past.
In 1937, as the Japanese invasion of China gradually These modern buildings span provinces and cities such
encroached upon the eastern seaboard, the capital of the National as Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong,
Government of Nanjing relocated to inland Chongqing. Shanxi, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangxi,
Consequently, financial institutions along the coast, headed by Yunnan, Chongqing, Hubei, and Hong Kong. Two distinct
the Bank of China, also migrated to Chongqing. This migration geographical patterns have emerged: a horizontal spread
shifted the financial center westward, making Chongqing the along the Yangtze River and a vertical distribution along
epicenter of the financial industry during the war.
the east coast. This distribution closely correlates with
Following the victory in the Anti-Japanese War in 1945, varying levels of economic development across different
Shanghai regained its status as the national financial center. regions. Cities located along rivers and coastlines possess
Financial institutions and administrative centers gradually inherent transportation advantages, thriving as bustling
relocated to the east. Throughout this transitional period, the trade and commerce hubs, surpassing inland cities in
Bank of China played a key role in establishing, relocating, and economic development. Moreover, the substantial presence
strategically repositioning financial institutions in response to of banking offices in cities along eastern rivers and coastal
changing trends within national and regional financial hubs. areas formed the foundation for the preservation of these
This context necessitated the banking industry to financial buildings (Figure 8).
adapt to changes in financial centers while expanding On a micro level, the arrangement and construction
their operations and adjusting the scale of their branches of banks during the early Qing dynasty, coupled with the
accordingly. Between 1912 and 1930, the Bank of China surge in the construction of bank buildings during the
expanded its branches to meet the varied financial service 1930s due to the dramatic increase in business activities,
requirements of different regions, reaching a total of 229 share a common trait: strategic placement in areas with
domestic branches by 1942 (Editing Committee of the financial potential, often serving as transportation hubs.
History of Bank of China & Second Historical Archives of
China, 1991). This historic institutional context provides Most of the existing Bank of China buildings are nestled
a comprehensive overview of the origins and dispersion within the core neighborhoods of various cities (Table 2).
of the Bank of China’s historic architectural legacy, which As documented in the Bank’s history, these buildings were
continues to resonate in contemporary times. located in the “central business districts and transport
hubs, solidly constructed, and representing the first-class
5. Analysis of the status of the Bank of buildings of the time” (Editing Committee of the History
China buildings of Bank of China & Second Historical Archives of China,
1991, p.173). Consequently, Bank of China buildings in
5.1. Distribution of modern bank buildings several regions swiftly transformed into iconic symbols
Urban construction and socioeconomic development of the local urban landscape soon after their construction
in the country during the second half of the 20 century (Cartier, 1999).
th

Volume 6 Issue 2 (2024) 8 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2166