Sun Shing Cheong Draft Bank Travel Guide
China's First Bank · Connecting the World · Pingyao Ancient City
Rishengchang is China's first draft bank specializing in currency exchange, founded in Pingyao in 1823. Its branches are spread across the country, earning it the reputation of 'Connecting the World with Remittances.' It is now the China Draft Bank Museum, with the accounting room, letter room, and treasury preserved in their original state.
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Destination Details
Ri Sheng Chang is located on West Street of Pingyao Ancient City. It was originally the Xi Yucheng Pigment Shop and was reorganized in 1823 into a bank specializing in remittances. Its significance lies in the fact that "money could be transferred without physically transporting silver" — a network of encoded seals, stamps, and branch offices turned remittance into a nationwide business.
Key Highlights
Front Counter and Accounting Room
The street-facing front counter served as the external business window, with a high counter separating customers from the accounting room. The back courtyard's accounting and letter rooms were the operational core, where you can see the abacuses, ledgers, and correspondence of the time. The courtyard is not large, but the functional areas are clearly defined.
Encoding System
The most clever aspect of the bank was its anti-counterfeiting measures: the encoded system replaced numbers with Chinese characters, updated monthly. Bank drafts were printed on special paper with cross-page stamps, plus handwriting verification. The museum has dedicated display boards that break down this mechanism.
Recommended Route
- Classic: Ri Sheng Chang → County Government Office → City Wall → Ming and Qing Street, half a day in Pingyao Ancient City.
- Include Shuanglin Temple and Zhenguo Temple for a full day in Pingyao.
Practical Information
Most streets in the ancient city are paved with stone and require walking. In summer, the sun is strong, so wearing a hat is recommended. Admission is included in the ancient city pass, which is valid for two days. Spending two days exploring at a leisurely pace is the most comfortable.
Routes that include this stop
Ancient Buildings of Northern Jin 4 Days · Taiyuan Wutai Mountain Pingyao
Jin Merchants Ancient Buildings 6 Days · Including Fo Guang Temple and Hongdong Great Pagoda Tree
8-Day In-Depth Tour of Ancient Shanxi Merchants' Architecture · Including Linfen and Guangsheng Temple
Jinchong 5th · Pingyao and Taiyuan