At the entrance to Ningbo Bang Museum in Zhenhai district, Ningbo, a stone inscription shows late leader Deng Xiaoping’s call to rally members of the Ningbo Bang for the development of Ningbo

Ningbo Bang, alternatively translated as the Ningbo Merchants Group, the Ningbo Commercial Group or simply the Ningbo Group, refers historically to a group of merchants doing business outside their native place, namely Yinxian, Fenghua, Cixi, Zhenhai and Xiangshan, the six counties under the jurisdiction of the historical Ningbo prefecture. These businessmen, connected by ties of blood, marriage or birth place, formed a loose community, emerged during the Ming (1368-1644) dynasty and became as one of the biggest regional commercial groups in China during the late Qing (1616-1911) period. Ningbo Bang in its modern sense includes not only the traders in the six counties but also those businessmen from Yuyao and Ninghai, as well as their descendants.

Statistics show that there are currently over 100,000 businessmen of Ningbo origin living in 64 countries and regions all cross the globe. With their offspring, the number of Ningbo Bang “members” stands at more than 400,000. Among them are business tycoons and world-renowned celebrities, such as Bao Yugang (1918-1991, aka Yue-Kong Pao, founder of the Worldwide Shipping Group), Dong Haoyun (1912-1982, aka C. Y. Tung, founder of the Orient Overseas Line) and Shao Yifu (1907-2014, aka Run Run Shaw, entertainment mogul and philanthropist. Indeed, three of the ten richest people in Hong Kong were from the Ningbo Bang, in addition to two world shipping magnates.

Known for their entrepreneurship and business acumen, Ningbo Bang is also recognized for their patriotism and charity. For example, some supported the revolutionary causes of Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925). Wang Kuancheng, former president of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, actively bought national bonds after the founding of the People’s Republic China, and apart from funding schools, he also donated an aeroplane in China’s war to resist US aggression and aid Korea.

China’s late leader Deng Xiaoping said in 1984 that “worldwide resources of Ningbo Bang should be fully leveraged for the development of Ningbo”, heralding a four-decade glorious journey for the city’s reform and opening-up.

Bronze statues are seen inside the Ningbo Bang Museum

The development of Ningbo Bang goes a long way back. The Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties witnessed the rise of Ningbo as a prosperous port along the southeast coast. With good geographical conditions and rich commercial atmosphere, generations of traders were born. Then during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the footprints of Ningbo businessmen spread across half of China. The establishment of qianzhuang (money shops or old-style banks) and pharmacies such as Tong Ren Tang in early Qing offered guidance for the future business operation of Ningbo Bang members. In 1843, the opening of Shanghai as a commercial port signaled the shift of Sino-foreign trade from Guangzhou to Shanghai, and attracted businessmen from its close neighbor, Ningbo, who quickly rose to prominence in finance, trade, shipping, manufacturing among other industries.

It is also during this period in Shanghai that two of the earliest and largest mass protests, led by a guild established by Ningbo Bang businessmen, against foreign occupiers took place.

Founded in 1797, Siming Gongsuo, also known as the Ningbo Association, was a native place association predominantly composed of people of Ningbo origin living in Shanghai.

In 1874, the French Council of the French Concession forced Siming Gongsuo to relocate the charitable cemetery inside its premises for a road it plans to build. Native Ningbo people gathered near Siming Gongsuo in protest, drove out the French police and surrounded the house of the Frenchman in charge of the matter, demanding its cancellation. The Frenchman opened fire, killing one and wounding another on the spot, which ignited the anger of the crowd. As an increasing number of people gathered, estimated to be over 1,500 people, and houses were burned down. A French warship was even called in to quell the protest, killing seven people and injuring many. Eventually, the French authority gave in and canceled the road construction plan.

In 1898, the French Council of the French Concession again ordered the confiscation of the land properties of Siming Gongsuo, ostensibly to build schools and hospitals, but the request was firmly rejected. The French authority then asked its naval forces to land and violently demolished the walls of Siming Gongsuo, killing two and injuring many more. Angry crowds stormed the French Concession that night before France retaliated the next day, killing and injuring another 30 and arresting more than a dozen. Led by Siming Gongsuo, over 300,000 went on strike or protested against the French atrocities, and once again, the French attempt to seize Siming Gongsuo was thwarted.

The solidarity of Ningbo Bang and the group’s perseverance and patriotism had a great influence in Shanghai and all over China. When the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression broke out in September 1931, Ningbo Bang played a significant role in the January 28 Incident in 1932 and the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, donating money, materials, medical supplies and helping refugees return to their native places. 

In 2018, the first Global Ningbo Community and Development Partnership Conference was held in Ningbo

During the Japanese invasion, many entrepreneurs of Ningbo origin were devoted to promoting national goods and threw themselves into the fight against the invaders.

Born in Zhejiang’s Zhenhai in 1893, Fang Yexian was known as the “King of Daily Use Chemicals”. A scion of a family of financiers from Ningbo, Fang was an ardent supporter of the National Products Movement. During the January 28 Incident of 1932 and the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, he converted his plants into hospitals and saved a great number of wounded Chinese soldiers. Resented for his resistance efforts, Fang was executed for refusing to collaborate with the Japanese on July 25, 1940.

Xiang Songmao, born in Yinxian in 1880, was another merchant of Ningbo Bang. He was not only the founder of the Great Five Continents Drugstore, contributing to the development of medicine in China, but also organized paramilitary troops in his factory to combat the Japanese invasion. Unfortunately, Xiang was captured during the January 28 Incident of 1932 and, together with 11 members of his drugstore, was killed. He was only 52.

Fang and Xiang are just two of many patriotic Ningbo Bang entrepreneurs who contributed efforts and even sacrificed lives in China’s resistance against Japanese invasion. And that fighting spirit still shines through.

Editor:Huang Yan