Business & Enterprise
Distinguished
Zhang Jian
1853 – 1926
Industrialist and educator who modernised Nantong
Distinguished is level 3 of 4 in the China Hall of Fame: sustained excellence over a career, widely honoured at home. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
A top scholar of the imperial examinations who turned to industry, founding cotton mills, schools and a museum that made his hometown of Nantong a model modern city.
Zhang Jian came first in the national examination of 1894 but chose business over an official career. He founded the Dasheng cotton mills and went on to build schools, a teachers' college and the Nantong Museum, one of the first public museums in China.
He is remembered as a pioneer of modern Chinese industry and education.
He is remembered as a pioneer of modern Chinese industry and education.
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