Beyond income and expenditures, there is banking. Welcome to the Shanghai Bank Museum. It is also known as the Finance Museum and Bank Museum. Here banking goes beyond the simple exchange of money.
This museum, established on April 9, 2000, by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, stands as China’s first financial industry museum. Jiang Jianqing’s strong support in 1998 was crucial. He started preparing for the museum construction back then.
Inside the Shanghai Bank Museum, discover three permanent exhibitions. Each showcases different aspects of China’s banking history. They span from the late Qing Dynasty to the present day.
Imagine yourself transported back to the late Qing Dynasty. Traditional credit institutions thrived then. These included money shops and pawnshops. The museum brings this era to life. It uses carefully designed scenes and vivid wax statues. Relics such as notes, seals, badges, machines, publications, and propaganda items are exhibited here. Don’t miss the wall of over 100 seals. They are forgery-proof tools and demonstrate excellent carving skills.
Then explore banking during the Republic of China period. It experienced both highs and lows. Early Chinese-funded financial institutions prospered. Shanghai emerged as China’s financial center. Hyperinflation caused suffering shortly before the People’s Republic of China was founded. Here, you can see the museum’s most valuable treasure. It is the only set of renminbi steel boards engraved by the American Bank Note Company. Observing under a magnifier reveals why it is nearly impossible to plagiarize. The intricate patterns are simply too difficult to fake.
Finally, learn about China’s post-1949 financial sector. Discover significant events that shaped today’s banking system. These include the establishment of the People’s Bank of China. They also include key financial measures in the early years of the People’s Republic of China. The huge advance in China’s financial sector after reform and opening-up is also displayed. Precious banknotes are exhibited here too. The “herding horse” banknote is called the king of renminbi notes.
The Shanghai Bank Museum, or Finance Museum and Bank Museum, encapsulates Shanghai’s banking history. It shows over 150 years of transformation. The museum covers 1,500 square meters. It includes a history hall, a coin hall, and an exhibition hall. There are over 20,000 items in its collection. Over 2,000 are on display.
The Shanghai Bank Museum is an important window into Shanghai’s financial culture. It welcomes numerous international and domestic visitors each month. Since its establishment, it has hosted over 100,000 visitors. The museum is located at No 301 Middle Fuxing Road in Huangpu district. It is open every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Admission during trial operations is only 5 yuan. It is free for children under 1.3 meters, disabled individuals, active soldiers, and elderly citizens with valid ID.