BEIJING, May 10 -- Northern China's Shanxi Province is renowned as the home of some of the country's most prominent merchant clans. This week, a museum will open to celebrate the centuries-old tradition.
The Shanxi Merchants Museum will form part of the Yingze Park, a landmark facility in the provincial capital of Taiyuan. The muesum aims to present both the history and the culture of the local merchant tradition, which dates back to the early Qing Dynasty some 300 years ago.
During their height in the 19th century, merchants from Shanxi operated businesses across the country. They mostly traded staple products, but also worked in finance and banking. Active in exports to Russia during the early 20th century, Shanxi's merchants are today considered the pioneers of China's foreign trade in the early modern era.
The new museum will showcase artifacts including historical documents and paintings that depict the flourishing merchant tradition. Visitors can learn more about the industry and its pioneers' diligence and initiative that brought the local merchants to prominence.
Admission to the museum is free.
(Source: CCTV)
