“What does ‘daily renewal’ mean to you?” I ask you now standing in front of this building. That phrase inspired the name of the Xin Xin Company. It means New New in English. This is the story of the \u65b0\u65b0\u767e\u8d27\u5927\u697c.
The \u65b0\u65b0\u767e\u8d27\u5927\u697c stands as a testament to Shanghai’s commercial history. It embodies innovation and resilience. Let’s step back to when Shanghai was a bustling hub of trade and culture.
In 1926, the \u65b0\u65b0\u767e\u8d27\u5927\u697c opened its doors. Huang Chih-Yuan, Liu Hsi-Chi, and Li Minzhou founded it. They sought to create a department store unlike any other. The name came from the Great Learning. It emphasized daily renewal. Shanghai already had big department stores. Xin Xin needed to stand out to compete with Sincere and Wing On.
Li Minzhou used the power of media. The \u65b0\u65b0\u767e\u8d27\u5927\u697c built the Glass Radio Station. It was on the sixth floor. Mr. Miao Yun designed this wireless telephone station. It started broadcasting in 1927. It was the first radio station built by the Chinese themselves.
What did it broadcast? It aired performances from the rooftop garden. It played records. The station broadcasted operas. It advertised goods sold at the \u65b0\u65b0\u767e\u8d27\u5927\u697c. The Glass Radio Station attracted shoppers. They could watch the broadcasts. It served as a great advertisement for Xin Xin.
\u65b0\u65b0\u767e\u8d27\u5927\u697c pioneered new services. It housed a barber shop inside the store. It offered air conditioning in summer. These modern features drew crowds of Shanghainese. People were curious about these novelties. The store also provided a hotel. It offered a storage insurance service. The \u65b0\u65b0\u767e\u8d27\u5927\u697c became one of the three major stores on Nanjing Road. Later, the Great New Company joined. Together, they were known as the four major Chinese-owned companies.
The building itself reflects its time. The \u65b0\u65b0\u767e\u8d27\u5927\u697c was completed in 1925. It was designed by Atkinson and Dallas. The Baohua Construction Company built it. The building faces south on Nanjing Road. It covers 4280 square meters. The building area is 22030 square meters. It stands over 30 meters tall. The \u65b0\u65b0\u767e\u8d27\u5927\u697c embraces the Art Deco style.
The seven-story structure housed various departments. The first three floors were retail space. They had 28 sales sections. The fourth floor held company offices. Insurance, storage, and warehouses occupied the fifth floor. The sixth floor featured the New New Amusement Park. It included theaters and dance halls. The seventh floor housed the Wanshan Restaurant. It served Cantonese cuisine. There was also a tea room. Customers enjoyed pastries and drinks.
However, internal conflicts plagued the company. In 1929, staff went on strike. Liu Hsi-Chi resolved financial issues. By 1930, the company earned a profit. But Liu Hsi-Chi resigned due to illness. He soon passed away. Li Minzhou became the major shareholder.
In 1936, tragedy struck. Zhou Zhanyuan, a dismissed guard, shot Li Minzhou. Li died at 55. His sons took over the business. During the Civil War, panic buying caused losses. By 1950, only three board members remained in Shanghai. Operations declined.
Eventually, the \u65b0\u65b0\u767e\u8d27\u5927\u697c closed in 1951. It became a memory. Today, the Shanghai First Food Co. stands at the original site. But the spirit of innovation lives on. The city recognized the building as a cultural relic in 1989.
As you stand here, remember the \u65b0\u65b0\u767e\u8d27\u5927\u697c. It represents Shanghai’s dynamic past. It reminds us of the importance of innovation and adaptation. The legacy of the New New Company endures in Shanghai’s vibrant commercial landscape.