A statue of Zhang Jian stands in front of the reconstructed Tonghai Kenmu Co. [Photo provided to nantong.gov.cn]

The former site of Tonghai Kenmu Co in Qidong, Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, was recently recognized as a 4A-level tourist attraction in China, according to the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.

Set up by Zhang Jian (1853-1926), a renowned industrial magnate, in 1901, the enterprise was the first agricultural share-holding enterprise in China and was expected to provide raw cotton to Dasheng Cotton Mills and help local poverty-stricken farmers.

Inside the former site of Tonghai Kenmu Co. [Photo provided to nantong.gov.cn]

To promote the entrepreneurial spirit of Zhang, Qidong authorities decided to rebuild the enterprise on site in 2021.

The reconstructed site follows the architectural style of the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and the Republic of China (1912-1949) and features a Muchou Hall, a farming affairs hall, wing rooms, a grain-sunning ground, and more.

The enterprise is divided into three parts. The western part is used for working, reporting, and catering, the middle part reproduces scenes from Tonghai Kenmu Co in its heyday, and the eastern part uses photos, videos, and physical objects to showcase the enterprise's development.