Rishengchang, Historic draft bank in Pingyao, China.
Rishengchang was a money exchange bureau in Pingyao with multiple courtyards and rooms for different business functions. The building preserves the spatial arrangement and furnishings from its time as a financial institution.
Its founding in 1823 marked the start of a modern banking system in China that used written accounts instead of counting tablets. This fundamentally changed how financial transactions were conducted.
The rooms show how merchants from Shanxi province conducted business here and built their trading networks. The place reflects their importance in Chinese commercial history.
The site is easy to reach on foot and the rooms are connected by regular stairs and corridors. Allow time to explore the different areas to understand how operations worked.
A largely overlooked detail is the early warning system with a bell that could be triggered manually during threats. This safety feature was well ahead of its time and shows how financial institutions already considered dangers back then.
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