永安堂

Could a building hold a city’s secrets? Here at the Yong’an Department Store, later known as the Wing On Company, or 永安公司 in Chinese, its walls have absorbed tales of prosperity and hardship. Yong’an Department Store isn’t just a building. It is a living testament to Guangzhou’s vibrant past. The department store started as a prominent structure in Haizhu, near the former Haizhu Park. It was linked to the mainland by a floating bridge and the bustling Zhenma Road. This area holds significance. It was here that the wealthy businessman Hu Wenhu built his luxurious Wing On Godown. The year 1931 marked a shift. During the expansion of the new embankment along the present-day Yanjiang West Road, Haizhu Stone, the foundation of the area, was buried. It became part of the new embankment. The statue of Cheng Biguang, initially at the Wing On Godown, found a new home in front of Yong’an Department Store. Yong’an Department Store has worn many hats. Established in 1937, it initially served as the main site for Hu Wenhu’s Standard Chartered Bank gold dealings. In its early days, it stood as the second grandest building in Guangzhou, surpassed only by the prestigious Aiqun Hotel. After the liberation of Guangzhou in October 1949, the People’s Liberation Army used the Yong’an Department Store building. It became a temporary support hub for frontline operations. Hu Wenhu, unwilling to accept the new regime, twice contacted Ye Jianying in hopes of negotiating a loan to the new government. His attempts failed. In January 1950, the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government issued a notice to seal Yong’an Department Store. They claimed Hu Wenhu owed grain taxes, pushing him further into conflict with the authorities. Ultimately, Hu Wenhu paid a portion of the owed taxes and a fine. Despite this, Yong’an Department Store was confiscated, declared “enemy property,” and given to the Guangdong Provincial Federation of Trade Unions. The “Hu Wenhu Wing On Company” sign was removed. The building was later transformed into the Guangzhou Children’s Library. In 1994, the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government decided to return the property rights to Hu Wenhu’s daughter, Hu Xian. However, due to restrictions on private media operations in mainland China, her plans to use it as a media office were thwarted. She then offered the building to the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government for social welfare. It ultimately became the Yuexiu District Children’s Library. The Yong’an Department Store, now housing the Yuexiu District Children’s Library, opened to the public on September 29, 2019. Its story serves as a powerful reminder of Guangzhou’s ever-evolving narrative.