Hong Kong Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank 1937 Real Photo Postcard
The building featured is the iconic Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) headquarters on the Bund in Shanghai, completed in 1923. Designed by the architectural firm Palmer & Turner, this neo-classical structure, topped with a grand dome, was a testament to Western architectural prowess and financial influence in early 20th-century Asia. At its completion, it was reputedly the second-largest bank building in the world, surpassed only by the Bank of England.
This postcard captures Shanghai during its vibrant interwar period, when the city served as a global economic powerhouse and a vital center for international trade and finance. The Bund, where the HSBC building stood prominently, was the heart of the International Settlement, reflecting the significant foreign presence and commercial activity in China's treaty ports. The mix of early automobiles and traditional rickshaws in the foreground illustrates the rapid modernization alongside enduring local practices characteristic of the era.
This postcard captures Shanghai during its vibrant interwar period, when the city served as a global economic powerhouse and a vital center for international trade and finance. The Bund, where the HSBC building stood prominently, was the heart of the International Settlement, reflecting the significant foreign presence and commercial activity in China's treaty ports. The mix of early automobiles and traditional rickshaws in the foreground illustrates the rapid modernization alongside enduring local practices characteristic of the era.
