Beneath the Shanghai sun stands the Jialing Building. It is a testament to a remarkable woman named Luo Jialing. She was also known as Liza Hardoon.
The Jialing Building stands at 99 Nanjing Road East. It carries the legacy of a rags-to-riches story. This is the story of Liza Hardoon and her husband Silas Aaron Hardoon.
Born in 1864, Luo Jialing came from a humble background in Shanghai. In 1886, she married Silas Aaron Hardoon. He was a Jewish tycoon who arrived penniless from Baghdad in 1868. Hardoon quickly mastered commercial property acquisition. He focused on retail spaces along Shanghai’s main street.
Originally named the Liza Hardoon Building, the Jialing Building received its current name later. The name honors Luo Jialing. She inherited her husband’s estate in 1931 and became Asia’s wealthiest woman.
In 1936, when the Jialing Building neared completion, The China Press described it as impressive. It called it one more imposing building in the Central District. The six-story structure housed shops, offices, and apartments.
The Jialing Building had a modern appearance. Its exterior featured cast stone blocks and face brick. The structure used reinforced concrete making it fire-proof. Architect Percy Tilley confirmed that all shops had been rented to good tenants.
The apartments on the top floor were popular. They had about 50 bed-sitting rooms with baths. The main entrance for offices and apartments was on Nanjing Road. A broad stairway and two lifts provided access to the upper floors.
Professor Chang Qing of Tongji University noted the rapid construction. Advanced technology and a simple design allowed completion in just over a year.
The Jialing Building featured stepped massing along Sichuan Road M. This mirrored American skyscrapers of the era. Despite a granite plinth, the facade was covered in slating. Vertical lines and geometrical patterns adorned the top part. Chang Qing described it as an Art Deco high-rise in the Commercial Gothic style.
Steel doors and windows were used in the Jialing Building. Peach timber and imported lauan enhanced the interior decoration.
Chase Bank was a famous tenant in old Shanghai. Today, a branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China operates there. The bank displays archival photos of the building and Nanjing Road. These showcase the Jialing Building’s past.
The Jialing Building stands on the former site of the British shop Hall & Holtz. It was among the few modern constructions among Hardoon properties.
Hardoon uniquely served on the boards of both the Shanghai Municipal Council. This council ruled the international settlement. He also served on the French Municipal Council. This governed the French concession.
Wang Jian, director of Institute of History, credits Hardoon’s vision. Hardoon suggested expanding the international settlement westward. This expansion reached today’s Jing’an Temple.
Hardoon profited from his vision. He founded his company on Nanjing Road. He invested in the city’s real estate boom.
Wang Jian noted that Hardoon found a home in Shanghai after marrying Luo Jialing. Mrs. Hardoon greatly influenced her husband.
She influenced Hardoon to embrace Buddhism. She encouraged him to fund the publication of Buddhist books. She motivated him to found a college and appreciate Chinese culture. They adopted nearly 20 orphans. The Hardoons appreciated Peking Opera and used chopsticks at home.
Historian Xia Boming noted Luo’s role in building connections with the Qing Dynasty royal family. Luo was regarded as the adopted daughter of Empress Longyu’s mother. The empress gifted Luo the character “fu,” meaning fortune.
The Hardoons hosted royal family members in Shanghai.
After Hardoon died in 1931, reports highlighted their happy 45-year marriage. Hardoon treated Luo with respect and affection.
Hardoon gifted his wife Aili Garden. It was their 26-acre home. The Shanghai Exhibition Center stands there now on Nanjing Road West. Though the garden is gone, the Jialing Building still stands. It keeps the Hardoon legacy alive.
As we conclude our visit to the Jialing Building, remember its story. Remember the story of Luo Jialing and Silas Aaron Hardoon. Their legacy continues to enrich Shanghai’s vibrant history.