HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsRishengchang Former Bank
Shanxi · China
After lunch, you will proceed to Ri Sheng Chang Exchange Shop and Tong Xing Gong. Ri Sheng Chang Exchange Shop is the first money exchange shop in China as well as the founder of Chinese modern banks, which has played an important role in Chinese financial business for about one century. Tong Xing Gong was an establishment which provided private escort service for the exchange shops to guard their safety during transportation.
Contents
6 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Rishengchang Former Bank
Welcome to Rishengchang, a name that translates to 'Sunrise Prosperity,' and which serves as the hallowed ground for China's financial history. Established in 1823 during the Qing Dynasty, this building is the world's first…
Listen in the app2The Front Counter — Where Silver Met Paper
The first area we encounter is the 'Gui Tai,' or the main counter, the interface where the public met the bank's services. This was the heart of the daily operation, where merchants would arrive with heavy bags of silver ingots. …
Listen in the app3The Secret Codes — Encryption of the 1800s
As we move into the manager's quarters, we discover the sophisticated methods Rishengchang used to ensure the security of its transactions. In an era before electronic banking or telephones, the primary threat was the…
Listen in the app4The Recruitment Policy — Training the Elite
One of the secrets to Rishengchang's longevity and success was its rigorous and strategic approach to human resources. The bank hired boys between the ages of 13 and 15 for its internship program. …
Listen in the app5The Underground Vault — Physical Security
Despite the focus on paper drafts, Rishengchang still had to maintain significant physical reserves of silver and gold. As we move into the deeper parts of the compound, we find the entrance to the underground vault. …
Listen in the app6Closing
Our journey through the Rishengchang Former Bank concludes at the birthplace of a financial revolution. We have explored the counters where silver became paper, the secret codes that protected a nation's wealth, and the rigorous…
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What is Rishengchang Former Bank?
Rishengchang Former Bank is a place in Shanxi · China with 6 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Shanxi · China |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 6 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 37.2053, 112.1837 |
| Last updated |
