Old Style Elevator
Address: No. 587 West Nanjing Road
I noticed this building in early 2009 when I went to the 555 Building for a business meeting. Although the exterior, at the time I visited looked no different from a typical modern euro-style mockup, I suspected it to be a historic structure based on my "keen observation" (just joking).
I decided to get into the building and to my expectation, it is indeed an old house. Much of the inerior was kept intact and I am very lucky to get a last glimpse of this old style elevator before it's going to be torn down next month.
While shooting the interior in the dark hallways last week, I had the opportunity to chit chat with many of the tenants who passed by me:
An old man who is excited about the new elevator that will be installed after they torn down this old one.
Another comrade who told me about the few century-old tenants who walk up and down the stairs each day. Pity I didn't witness that.
Another Ayi who told me that this building was built by the British (don't think she's correct) and that this house was featured in the first version of the action movie "Bao Mi Ju De Qiang Sheng" (Gunshot of the Secret Agency)
After some research and also thanks to my trusty directory of the apartment building book published by Tongji University Press, this building was built in 1927 and known as The Tung Lai Building. Tung Lai Bank was founded in 1918 in Tsingtao by Liu ZiShan (1880-1948), a Shandong Native. Many of this wealthy banker's buildings are still well preserved in Tianjing.
Some interesting facts about Liu ZiShan:
Born in 1880 in the rurals of Shandong, he went to start earning his living as a street hawker at the tender age of 14. He later became a page to a German. He was a very clever man and self taught himself German and later Japanese. In 1908, he even became an interpreter for a German architect while at the same time started his life as an entrepreneur engaging in the construction material business. In the next few years, he also became a sole agent for many German products and became quite wealthy before the outbreak of WWI.
However, a large part of his first bucket of gold came from opium trade. In a short span of time, he won a whopping amount of 42 million yuan from trading opium and became the infamous "Opium King of Tsingtao". He later diversified his business into the real estate, automobile (he was also agent of the American BUICK cars), logistic and transport, insurance, textile, electricity, coal mining and founded Tung Lai Bank in 1918, headquartered in Tsingtao, with the second branch opened in Tianjing in 1919.
As he accumulated his wealth, he deeply regretted about his early life as an opium trader and started his next chapter: PHILANTHROPY. He founded the Ji'Nan Orphanage, built the Shandong Univerity and also donated a lot of money in building the infrastructure in the Shandong Province.
He moved to Shanghai in the spring of 1948 to receive medical care and passed away in the same year, on 12th October after a heart attack.
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Uploaded on Nov 17, 2009
4 comments
Waiting Hall
Discovery of the Year: The former Ying Family Residence
On a beautiful early summer night in May 2009, I had this special chance to attend the regular ESH Meeting (Explore Shanghai Heritage) at the German Consulate and listen to the night's special guest, Mr. To Foo Ying recalling about the life of Old Shanghai. Born in Shanghai to the wealthy Ying family, he left for Hong Kong after the liberation and according to Mrs. Gabi, the consul's wife, Mr. Ying went on to become a very successful businessman in the city. An alumnus of the St. John's the Divine, he revisited Shanghai with his very elegant wife on this special occasion for an alumni gathering.
A 3-storey building with a "false fourth floor" located on the former Burkill Road, the present day Fengyang Road, it was built by To Foo's father, this house cost him 100,000 tils of silver with all stone granite delivered from Soochow. It is interesting to note the rather hidden location of the house too. I have been in Shanghai for so many years and walked down this street for a trillion times but never will I know the existence of this unique building had I not attended this meeting. To Foo said Mr Ying the Senior was once kidnapped thus he wanted his house to be hidden behind the markets so as to keep away from any unwanted attention.
The family owned a lot of properties, Linongs (Alley Houses) and lands all over Shanghai and one day, after 33 years living in the house, the People's Government wanted to sue Mr. Ying,Sr. because a wall of one of the family's Linongs on Tianjin Road was slanting. To Foo, who was 32 years old back then, represented his father on the 1st hearing.
"What do you have to compensate?"
"Nothing"
On the 2nd hearing: The same question and also the same reply from To Foo.
After the 3rd hearing, To Foo went home and told his father that he'd go to jail if he can do nothing to compensate and convince his father to sell the house.
Mr. To Foo continued a very interesting part about the currency reform after the liberation which I couldn't quite understand but anyway, in the very end, they sold the house to the government for 175,000 yuan.
Currently, the house was owned by a private advertising company. On a cold rainy afternoon, I went into the courtyard of the house and told the guard the words Boris (an architect, son of Mr. To Foo) taught me; I asked him earlier whether it's possible to visit the house. Then I was greeted by a Mr. Y-, who I suppose is the boss of the company. A firm handshake and a friendly smile, he instructed the guard to show me around and I had this privilege to take pictures from any corners of the house, from the ground floor up to the "false fourth floor". Mr Zhao the guard, who happens to be a serious amateur photographer, helped me to get my tripod setup in the narrow staircase and hallways, and gave me a lot of invaluable suggestions on getting the best angle inside the house. The stained glass, I would say, are the most beautiful things, so as the tiled floors and the beautiful balcony... ...
Address: No. 338, Fengyang Road
All rights reserved
Uploaded on Nov 17, 2009
0 comments
Staircase
Discovery of the Year: The former Ying Family Residence
On a beautiful early summer night in May 2009, I had this special chance to attend the regular ESH Meeting (Explore Shanghai Heritage) at the German Consulate and listen to the night's special guest, Mr. To Foo Ying recalling about the life of Old Shanghai. Born in Shanghai to the wealthy Ying family, he left for Hong Kong after the liberation and according to Mrs. Gabi, the consul's wife, Mr. Ying went on to become a very successful businessman in the city. An alumnus of the St. John's the Divine, he revisited Shanghai with his very elegant wife on this special occasion for an alumni gathering.
A 3-storey building with a "false fourth floor" located on the former Burkill Road, the present day Fengyang Road, it was built by To Foo's father, this house cost him 100,000 tils of silver with all stone granite delivered from Soochow. It is interesting to note the rather hidden location of the house too. I have been in Shanghai for so many years and walked down this street for a trillion times but never will I know the existence of this unique building had I not attended this meeting. To Foo said Mr Ying the Senior was once kidnapped thus he wanted his house to be hidden behind the markets so as to keep away from any unwanted attention.
The family owned a lot of properties, Linongs (Alley Houses) and lands all over Shanghai and one day, after 33 years living in the house, the People's Government wanted to sue Mr. Ying,Sr. because a wall of one of the family's Linongs on Tianjin Road was slanting. To Foo, who was 32 years old back then, represented his father on the 1st hearing.
"What do you have to compensate?"
"Nothing"
On the 2nd hearing: The same question and also the same reply from To Foo.
After the 3rd hearing, To Foo went home and told his father that he'd go to jail if he can do nothing to compensate and convince his father to sell the house.
Mr. To Foo continued a very interesting part about the currency reform after the liberation which I couldn't quite understand but anyway, in the very end, they sold the house to the government for 175,000 yuan.
Currently, the house was owned by a private advertising company. On a cold rainy afternoon, I went into the courtyard of the house and told the guard the words Boris (an architect, son of Mr. To Foo) taught me; I asked him earlier whether it's possible to visit the house. Then I was greeted by a Mr. Y-, who I suppose is the boss of the company. A firm handshake and a friendly smile, he instructed the guard to show me around and I had this privilege to take pictures from any corners of the house, from the ground floor up to the "false fourth floor". Mr Zhao the guard, who happens to be a serious amateur photographer, helped me to get my tripod setup in the narrow staircase and hallways, and gave me a lot of invaluable suggestions on getting the best angle inside the house. The stained glass, I would say, are the most beautiful things, so as the tiled floors and the beautiful balcony... ...
Address: No. 338, Fengyang Road
All rights reserved
Uploaded on Nov 17, 2009
5 comments
Tiles
Discovery of the Year: The former Ying Family Residence
On a beautiful early summer night in May 2009, I had this special chance to attend the regular ESH Meeting (Explore Shanghai Heritage) at the German Consulate and listen to the night's special guest, Mr. To Foo Ying recalling about the life of Old Shanghai. Born in Shanghai to the wealthy Ying family, he left for Hong Kong after the liberation and according to Mrs. Gabi, the consul's wife, Mr. Ying went on to become a very successful businessman in the city. An alumnus of the St. John's the Divine, he revisited Shanghai with his very elegant wife on this special occasion for an alumni gathering.
A 3-storey building with a "false fourth floor" located on the former Burkill Road, the present day Fengyang Road, it was built by To Foo's father, this house cost him 100,000 tils of silver with all stone granite delivered from Soochow. It is interesting to note the rather hidden location of the house too. I have been in Shanghai for so many years and walked down this street for a trillion times but never will I know the existence of this unique building had I not attended this meeting. To Foo said Mr Ying the Senior was once kidnapped thus he wanted his house to be hidden behind the markets so as to keep away from any unwanted attention.
The family owned a lot of properties, Linongs (Alley Houses) and lands all over Shanghai and one day, after 33 years living in the house, the People's Government wanted to sue Mr. Ying,Sr. because a wall of one of the family's Linongs on Tianjin Road was slanting. To Foo, who was 32 years old back then, represented his father on the 1st hearing.
"What do you have to compensate?"
"Nothing"
On the 2nd hearing: The same question and also the same reply from To Foo.
After the 3rd hearing, To Foo went home and told his father that he'd go to jail if he can do nothing to compensate and convince his father to sell the house.
Mr. To Foo continued a very interesting part about the currency reform after the liberation which I couldn't quite understand but anyway, in the very end, they sold the house to the government for 175,000 yuan.
Currently, the house was owned by a private advertising company. On a cold rainy afternoon, I went into the courtyard of the house and told the guard the words Boris (an architect, son of Mr. To Foo) taught me; I asked him earlier whether it's possible to visit the house. Then I was greeted by a Mr. Y-, who I suppose is the boss of the company. A firm handshake and a friendly smile, he instructed the guard to show me around and I had this privilege to take pictures from any corners of the house, from the ground floor up to the "false fourth floor". Mr Zhao the guard, who happens to be a serious amateur photographer, helped me to get my tripod setup in the narrow staircase and hallways, and gave me a lot of invaluable suggestions on getting the best angle inside the house. The stained glass, I would say, are the most beautiful things, so as the tiled floors and the beautiful balcony... ...
Address: No. 338, Fengyang Road
All rights reserved
Uploaded on Nov 17, 2009
1 comment
Balcony
Discovery of the Year: The former Ying Family Residence
On a beautiful early summer night in May 2009, I had this special chance to attend the regular ESH Meeting (Explore Shanghai Heritage) at the German Consulate and listen to the night's special guest, Mr. To Foo Ying recalling about the life of Old Shanghai. Born in Shanghai to the wealthy Ying family, he left for Hong Kong after the liberation and according to Mrs. Gabi, the consul's wife, Mr. Ying went on to become a very successful businessman in the city. An alumnus of the St. John's the Divine, he revisited Shanghai with his very elegant wife on this special occasion for an alumni gathering.
A 3-storey building with a "false fourth floor" located on the former Burkill Road, the present day Fengyang Road, it was built by To Foo's father, this house cost him 100,000 tils of silver with all stone granite delivered from Soochow. It is interesting to note the rather hidden location of the house too. I have been in Shanghai for so many years and walked down this street for a trillion times but never will I know the existence of this unique building had I not attended this meeting. To Foo said Mr Ying the Senior was once kidnapped thus he wanted his house to be hidden behind the markets so as to keep away from any unwanted attention.
The family owned a lot of properties, Linongs (Alley Houses) and lands all over Shanghai and one day, after 33 years living in the house, the People's Government wanted to sue Mr. Ying,Sr. because a wall of one of the family's Linongs on Tianjin Road was slanting. To Foo, who was 32 years old back then, represented his father on the 1st hearing.
"What do you have to compensate?"
"Nothing"
On the 2nd hearing: The same question and also the same reply from To Foo.
After the 3rd hearing, To Foo went home and told his father that he'd go to jail if he can do nothing to compensate and convince his father to sell the house.
Mr. To Foo continued a very interesting part about the currency reform after the liberation which I couldn't quite understand but anyway, in the very end, they sold the house to the government for 175,000 yuan.
Currently, the house was owned by a private advertising company. On a cold rainy afternoon, I went into the courtyard of the house and told the guard the words Boris (an architect, son of Mr. To Foo) taught me; I asked him earlier whether it's possible to visit the house. Then I was greeted by a Mr. Y-, who I suppose is the boss of the company. A firm handshake and a friendly smile, he instructed the guard to show me around and I had this privilege to take pictures from any corners of the house, from the ground floor up to the "false fourth floor". Mr Zhao the guard, who happens to be a serious amateur photographer, helped me to get my tripod setup in the narrow staircase and hallways, and gave me a lot of invaluable suggestions on getting the best angle inside the house. The stained glass, I would say, are the most beautiful things, so as the tiled floors and the beautiful balcony... ...
Address: No. 338, Fengyang Road
All rights reserved
Uploaded on Nov 17, 2009
2 comments
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