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[5.10]Western Historical Buildings

Release time:2017-09-10 10:50

  

 

  In the early twentieth century, Hankou had become a considerably large international metropolis known as "Oriental Chicago".

  The total length of Hankou Concession in Binjiang District is 1088 zhang (a traditional Chinese unit of length approximately equal to 3.58 meters), with the total area of 2804.4 mu. There have been many old and classic buildings of different countries in this area, which are the historical buildings. And now, they belong to the Major Sites Protected for their Historical and Cultural Value at the National Level.

  Jianghanguan Building

  

 

  Jianghanguan Building is located in the intersection between Jianghan Road and Yanjiang Avenue of Hankou Town, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and faces the Yangtze River to the southeast, which is one of the landmark buildings of Wuhan. Hankow Customs —— it was established in November, 1861. On November 4, 1922, the foundation stone laying ceremony of this building was held at the sixtieth anniversary of Hankow Customs and it was formally completed on January 21, 1924. This building, with a floor area of 1,499m2, a building area of 4,009m2 and a total height of 46.3m, was the highest one in Wuhan at that time, with the top elevation of its belfry of 83.8m. From 1924, the overture of Westminster was played in Jianghanguan Building, but during the period of the Cultural Revolution, it was changed to Dongfanghong, and then in 1987, it was changed to the Westminster again to give the correct time and now is stilled used. In terms of the appearance and construction quality of Jianghanguan Building, it could be said to reach the international advanced level then. As a witness to the history of a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society of China, it is also a carrier that China changed the closed-door policy to the opening-up policy. It is the witness to the opening-up of Hankou and is the monument of the history of Wuhan, having historical value and value of art of architecture of great significance.

  Year of completion: 1924

  Dazhimen Railway Station

  

 

  As the south terminal station of Beijing-Hankow Railway, Dazhimen Railway Station was second to none in Asia at the time of completion, which was the most advanced and spectacular railway station then, was called the "living heritage" recording the railway development history of China and operated until 1991. The most important characteristic was that 20m-high towers were constructed on the four corners of this station. It was converted into a bar named "Power Station", and now it belongs to one of the Major Sites Protected for their Historical and Cultural Value at the National Level.

  Address: intersection between Jinghan Avenue and Chezhan Road, Hankou

  Year of completion: 1903

  United States Navy YMCA

  

United States Navy YMCA in Hankou concession

 

  It is a classical architecture of modern style. It is designed with three-section composition, and five bays are designed in the facade, while the round protrusions are constructed in the bays on both sides, with three complete sets of wooden windows. The entrance is designed in the middle bay, where steps are constructed so as to directly connect the second floor. For the three bays in the middle, the double-column verandas are designed in the first, second and third floors. The both sides of the top floor are designed with the red tile slopes, on the outside of which the semicircular balcony is built, three bays in the middle are designed with single-column verandas. Now, it is the Patriotic Christian Association of Wuhan.

  Address: No. 10, Lihuangpi Road

  Year of completion: 1915

  Terminus Hotel

  

Terminus Hotel in Hankou Concession

 

  The hotel name was transliterated from an English word, Terminus; the hotel was very close to Hankou Dazhimen Railway Station which was the destination of then Beijing-Hankow Railway, so it was called Terminus Hotel. Terminus Hotel was the first hotel opened by foreigners in Wuhan. The hotel was designed with cream-colored walls and white cornices, rails and upright columns, and two pairs of Ionic double-column arched porches at the main entrance. The carved patterns on stairs still keep the appearance as they were a hundred years ago. The hotel's history of a hundred year is closely related to the political changes of China: the Lytton Commission had stayed at Terminus Hotel when they visited China for investigating the "Mukden Incident" in 1932; Ms. Agnes Smedley, a famous American writer, held a news conference in Terminus Hotel to introduce to Chinese and foreigners the situation of the guerrilla war of resistance against Japan performed by the Eighth Route Army. Now, it is Jianghan Hotel.

  Address: No. 245, Shengli Street, Jiang'an District

  Year of completion: 1919

  Russian Eastern Orthodox Church

  

Russian Eastern Orthodox Church in Hankou concession

 

  In 1891, the Tsar Nicholas II who was the last Tsar of Russia visited Hankou and participated in the 25th anniversary celebration of Shuntai Brick Tea Factory started by a Russian tea trader, and during this travel, the Tsar was satisfied, so he decided to contribute an eastern orthodox church to the local Russians, which is now the Russian Eastern Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church of Hankou is the unique Eastern Orthodox Church and also the sole Russian building of Byzantine style, which narrowly excaped from two bombing events in Hankou which occurred in 1938 and 1944 respectively, so the church is basically preserved in its original state up to now. Unfortunately, its "garlic-head" roof had been damaged.

  Address: No. 83, Poyang Street

  Year of completion: 1893

  Minzhong Fairyland

  

Minzhong Fairyland in Hankou concession

 

  Minzhong Fairyland on Zhongshan Avenue would be by no means inferior even if it were built on the Shanghai Bund. Before the liberation of China, Hankou Minzhong Fairyland was equally famous with Shanghai Great World and Tianjin Quanye Bazaar. Before the liberation, the local Han opera as well as Peking opera, Shaoxing opera, Yu opera and Huangmei opera were performed here; in addition to these highbrow operas from all over the country, there were popular acrobatics and magic shows, so Minzhong Fairyland was deserved. Until now, it is still a popular market in Wuhan, where the first nail salon and the first tattoo shop were opened, and the envelope of old buildings as well as magnificent internal arcades and grand stage are reserved, so the myth of Minzhong Fairyland is able to continue.

  Address: Zhongshan Avenue, Hankou

  Year of completion: 1919