The Great Northern Telegraph Company Building, Shanghai
This Italian Renaissance-style building at No. 7 on the Bund in Shanghai was built for the Danish Great Northern Telegraph Company. The company installed Shanghai’s first telephone exchange on this site in 1882, in the earlier building that once stood here.
Construction of the present building began in the early 1900s, but a fire in 1905 delayed the work, and it finally opened in January 1908. Designed by Atkinson & Dallas, the building also housed the British-owned Eastern Extension Telegraph Company and the American-owned Commercial Cable Company. At the time, it was equipped with advanced facilities, including a pneumatic tube system for handling telegrams, public telephones in the ground-floor hall, and a lift made by Smith & Stevens of London.
The Great Northern Telegraph Company occupied the ground floor until 1921, when it moved to new premises near today’s East Yan’an Road. In 1945, the Commercial Bank of China moved into the building, and it later served the Yangtze River Shipping Company. Since 1995, the building has largely been occupied by Bangkok Bank. The Royal Thai Consulate-General also used part of the building until 2008.
Construction of the present building began in the early 1900s, but a fire in 1905 delayed the work, and it finally opened in January 1908. Designed by Atkinson & Dallas, the building also housed the British-owned Eastern Extension Telegraph Company and the American-owned Commercial Cable Company. At the time, it was equipped with advanced facilities, including a pneumatic tube system for handling telegrams, public telephones in the ground-floor hall, and a lift made by Smith & Stevens of London.
The Great Northern Telegraph Company occupied the ground floor until 1921, when it moved to new premises near today’s East Yan’an Road. In 1945, the Commercial Bank of China moved into the building, and it later served the Yangtze River Shipping Company. Since 1995, the building has largely been occupied by Bangkok Bank. The Royal Thai Consulate-General also used part of the building until 2008.
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The Great Northern Telegraph Company Building on Map
Sight Name: The Great Northern Telegraph Company Building
Sight Location: Shanghai, China (See walking tours in Shanghai)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Shanghai, China (See walking tours in Shanghai)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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