China's first modern publisher turns 120 years old
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The Commercial Press was founded in Shanghai in 1897. [File Photo: thepaper.cn]

120th birthday of China's first modern publishing house - the Commercial Press - has been commemorated by a picture exhibition on Saturday in Shanghai.

It was held at No. 190, Tiantong'an Road, which served as the fifth printing house of the press and is the only Commercial Press building to have survived to this day in the city.

The pictures on show depict how the publishing house started, evolved and was attacked by Japanese aggressors during the Second World War.

The building of the Press was destroyed by Japanese aggressors during the Second World War. [File Photo: thepaper.cn]

A English-Chinese dictionary pulished by the Commercial Press [Photo: thepaper.cn]

Zhang Renfeng, a grandson of the publisher's founder, recalled the press's bitter wartime experience.

"The commander of the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces stationed in Shanghai said once that Chinese people could never rise up if institutions such as the Commercial Press are destroyed in a bombardment. So his words made it clear that what they wanted was to destroy Chinese culture." Said Zhang.

According to local cultural authorities, a series of memorial activities will be held throughout the year.

The Commercial Press was founded in Shanghai in 1897. [File Photo: CCTV News]

Author： 　　　Source：CRI　　　 Editor：Yang Fan