Former Shanzuo Bank, Qingdao, Classical bank building in Qingdao, China.
This is a classical stone and concrete bank building with four stories above ground and one basement level. The facade features carefully worked stone elements and symmetrical windows that give the building a solid and trustworthy appearance.
The building was constructed in 1934 under architect Liu Quanfa's direction during a time when Qingdao was rapidly modernizing. It reflects the city's economic expansion in the early 20th century.
The name Shanzuo comes from an old term for Shandong, meaning "left of the Taihang Mountains". The bank was founded by local Qingdao merchants and gentry, and its 1924 advertisement listed manager Fu Bingzhao and assistant manager Liu Mingqing. The building's cornice and belt-course heights were set by the city works bureau to match the neighbouring Shanghai Commercial and Savings Bank, so the three bank facades on this block line up.
The building stands at 64-66 Zhongshan Road in Shinan District, its east-facing facade directly on the street, so it can be examined from the pavement. It is now the Shinan branch of the Bank of China and is connected internally to the former Shanghai Commercial and Savings Bank next door; the two share aligned cornices and string courses, which are easiest to compare by stepping back across the road.
The original stone facade is surprisingly well preserved, even though many similar buildings in this region were rebuilt. This makes it a rare example of authentic 1930s bank architecture in the province.
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