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Chongqing News

Datong Road: the Chinese Wall Street during Anti-Japanese War

2017-05-17 10:16:09

Datong Road in Liangjiang Film Studio

This is the old site of Bank of Communications in Datong Road.

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Though Datong Road is located in the exceedingly prosperous CBD area of Chongqing, it could hardly make people who heard its name for the first time relate it to “prosperity”. However, the fact is that this several-meter-long road is a key juncture between the upper and lower halves of Chongqing’s urban area. In the past, as a street of many banks, it was prosperous and famed as the “Chinese Wall Street”.

It was once more famous than Jiefangbei.

Back in the Qing Dynasty, native coppersmiths gradually assembled here with their instruments, hence its name. During its heyday, more than one hundred bronze shops clustered along the road, and the according clashing sound of coppers could be heard day and night.

Back then, it was much more famous than Jiefangbei. As a juncture between the upper and lower halves of urban area of Chongqing, it extends to the freight wharf. Thus, all the export and import freights should be transported on this road.

With the increase of communication and freight volume, high buildings gradually took the place of coppersmiths. Many world famous banks established their branches in this street, and most passengers here were elites in financial circles.

It enjoys the first street lamps in Chongqing.

In 1921, Zhuchuan Electric bulbs Company, commissioned by then Chongqing Business Supervisory Bureau, installed more than one hundred street lamps in some main roads, such as Datong Road, Shaanxi Road, and Xiaoshizi. They were the first wave of street lamps in Chongqing.

Back then, street lamps were not fixed on lamp poles. Naturally, lamps would sway back and forth whenever wind blew. Datong Road, located in CBD area, then witnessed many people walking after dinner. Humorous Chongqing locals thus called leisurely walk after dinner as “lamps swaying back and forth”, which became a household phrase in Sichuan province and Chongqing Municipality.

During the Anti-Japanese War, many banks were clustered on Datong Road and its nearby areas, such as the Bank of Communications Chongqing branch, headquarters of Chuankang Bank, headquarters of American Oriental Banking Corporation, headquarters of Bank of China, headquarters of Juxingcheng, the Salt Industry Bank of Szechwan, and Hecheng Bank, etc. Thus, Datong Road is famed as the “Chinese Wall Street during Anti-Japanese War”.

Nowadays, Datong Road, as a juncture between Jiefangbei and Chaotianmen, enjoys no less hustle and bustle. Nowadays, it looks much more modern. If you want to see the landscapes of Datong Road during the times of alternate capital, you can come to Liangjiang Film Studio to appreciate its vivid representation. (Translated by Zeng Lijin, Fathom Language Limited)

 

Editor:Jiang Yiwei