Published : 2025-02-11
On 11 February, 1897, China's first modern publishing institution, the Commercial Press (商務印書館), was established in Shanghai.
The founders were Xia Ruifang (夏瑞芳), Bao Xianchang (鮑咸昌), Bao Xian'en (鮑咸恩), and Gao Fengchi (高鳳池).
They were originally typesetters, so in the beginning, the Commercial Press was just a printing workshop focused on taking on various commercial printing tasks and sporadically commissioning the translation and compilation of English-Chinese bilingual textbooks.
In 1902, Zhang Yuanji, a scholar well-versed in both Chinese and Western studies and a former Hanlin Academy member, joined the Commercial Press upon invitation.
The business transitioned from printing to publishing. The Commercial Press began editing and publishing primary and secondary school textbooks to meet the societal need for educational institutions after the abolition of the imperial examination system.
The Hong Kong branch of the Commercial Press was established in 1914, and it was one of the earliest branches set up outside Shanghai.
Initially, the Commercial Press set up a storefront in Central to sell textbooks, Chinese and Western dictionaries, children's books, novels, stationery, etc. Shortly after its establishment, the Commercial Press began printing and selling textbooks in Hong Kong.
In 1924, the Commercial Press opened a printing factory on Catchick Street in Sai Wan. In 1933, it constructed a new factory building in North Point, giving rise to the name "Bookstore Street" (Shu Kuk Street) in North Point.
