China is home to one of the world’s largest stock exchanges, a fact you wouldn’t guess by looking at the rundown remains of its former headquarters.
Tucked away in alley behind Qianmen in capital city Beijing, it first opened in 1918 and remained until 1949 when the establishment of the People’s Republic of China shut it down.
At the time of its opening, the massive milestone of modern development had a value of 1 million Chinese yen and 60 members.
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When communism took over in 1949, the exchange was deemed a capitalist phenomena.
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For the next 30 years, the building sat empty and grew more and more dilapidated.
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A far cry from the former glory it once held.
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You can still imagine how gorgeous the impressive architecture must has been in its early days, however.
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Makeshift homes have popped up inside the once beautiful building as the city attempts to deal with its overpopulation.
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Not much to look at from the outside, either.
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Today, this building now houses the country’s impressive stock exchange.
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(via Messy Nessy Chic.)
It’s a testament to the need for preservation in so many areas of the world. If we don’t try, the history might slip right through our fingers.
