Customs House

Renowned as the sister building of the HSBC, the Shanghai Customs House is a symbolic landmark. It is of the classic and Renaissance style, located at No.13 Zhongshan Road (E-1). The building of framework structure was put up in 1927 and was originally named Jianghai Customs House.

Actually the rudiment of Shanghai Customs House came as early as on November 17, 1843. It was the day that Shanghai was formerly opened to the outside World. The original one was converted from a temple. In 1893, a Tudor-style architecture was erected, which was handsome with a clock tower dividing the structure into two wings. In the early 20^th century, many foreign-owned companies started to set up blueprints to rebuild their estates for further expansion of their business scope. In 1918, shortly after the ending of World War 1, series of construction work were underway.

Built at the cost of 43 million taels of silver, the new Customs House is a magnificent eclectic building combining European classic and renaissance architectural features. With four huge Roman granite columns propping up the gateway, the eleven-story building looks gorgeous and magnificent. Its lobby is adorned with elaborate plaster patterns and floor lining. The flat roof is gold gilded and inlaid with colored mosaic.

The most important part is probably the clock tower, which serves as the vertical axis of the building and gives the construction a solemn look. The tower houses one of the most famous clocks throughout the world. The clock, built at the cost of more than 2,000 taels of silver, was made after the style of Big Ben on the top of the British Pariament House. Ever since it was planted there, the bid clock has been telling time dutifully. It strikes every quarter with a piece of music.

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