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Magical window on special families
May 6, 2010, Thursday
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A Hangzhou family of silk merchants, the Wangs, are among six typical Zhejiang families featured in the Expo's Zhejiang Pavilion. Xu Wenwen visits the "house" of the Wangs and finds out what makes them special.
Six typical Zhejiang families are featured in an exhibition "Village" in the World Expo 2010's Zhejiang Province Pavilion. The exhibit tells the story of Zhejiang's development through the lives of these families. Video, photos, sculpture, other artworks and items from the families' lives are displayed. Visitors get the impression they are visiting homes.
The Hangzhou representative is the Wang family, a four-generation family with 32 members. Since 1898 the family has operated a silk store on Zhongshan Road, or Royal Street of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). It still operates today.
"The changes experienced by my family are a microcosm of the changes experienced by the people of Hangzhou," says 36-year-old Wang Peng, the eldest in the third generation. "No matter if a family is rich or poor, big or small, it is connected with society.
"We are honored to be selected, and we welcome friends from around the world to visit our 'house'," he says.
The Wang house combines old and new. Since they were chosen to be one of the typical Zhejiang families, the pavilion staff video-recorded their lives, including parties, visits, meals, entertainment and special moments.
These videos of "today" are juxtaposed with more than 100 old photos of "yesterday" representing the family's history.
Both videos and photos appear to be scenes viewed through windows; Visitors can press buttons for "yesterday" and "today."
Through another big window, visitors can look out on Hangzhou, seeing not a fixed landscape but a moving scene of old and new that reflects changes over many years. Smaller changes can be glimpsed through smaller windows.
An old-fashioned radio, a wooden abacus, a black and white TV, dinnerware, books and various items from daily life are displayed.
"As we collected these old items and photos, we reviewed the history of our family and it was heartwarming to reminisce," says Wang.
"The family witnessed the development of Hangzhou, and they are also part of the city landscape," says Yang Qirui, general designer of the Zhejiang Pavilion from China Academy of Fine Arts. "They reflect the city's people-orientated policy."
The Wangs were also selected to be one of the models of a landmark sculpture built last year on Zhongshan Road.
The family has lived on Zhongshan Road since 1898 when great-grandparents opened Yuantai Silk Store there. Since then the family experienced the ups and downs of Hangzhou, and of China.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the store was already one of the three biggest silk stores in Hangzhou. But business was disrupted twice, once during the Japanese troop's invasion in the 1930s, and again beginning in 1952 when private enterprises became public-private enterprises.
Business didn't revive until 1998, when the Zhejiang government started to preserve famous old brands.
"I realized our silk quilts would again become popular as living standards improved," says 65-year-old Wang Xiqi. He and his nephew Wang Peng spared no efforts to rebuild their brand.
With a new name Jixiangfang (literally "auspicious workshop"), the Wangs restarted their business, again selling silk quilts and other silk products at the intersection of Zhongshan and Hefang roads.
The oldest family member, grandmother Wu Ruzhen, is chairman of the board and her grandson Wang Peng is general manager.
Jixiangfang was recognized as an "Old Brand of Zhejiang Province" and "Old Brand of China."
Business is flourishing as there's heavy traffic in the popular area.
Of the fourth generation of the family, the youngest is now a teenager. Six small households within the big family still live on Zhongshan Road.
"We were born and grew up on Zhongshan Road in Hangzhou," says Wang Xiqi. "And we have bought a house here to extend our big family."
Six typical Zhejiang families are featured in an exhibition "Village" in the World Expo 2010's Zhejiang Province Pavilion. The exhibit tells the story of Zhejiang's development through the lives of these families. Video, photos, sculpture, other artworks and items from the families' lives are displayed. Visitors get the impression they are visiting homes.
The Hangzhou representative is the Wang family, a four-generation family with 32 members. Since 1898 the family has operated a silk store on Zhongshan Road, or Royal Street of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). It still operates today.
"The changes experienced by my family are a microcosm of the changes experienced by the people of Hangzhou," says 36-year-old Wang Peng, the eldest in the third generation. "No matter if a family is rich or poor, big or small, it is connected with society.
"We are honored to be selected, and we welcome friends from around the world to visit our 'house'," he says.
The Wang house combines old and new. Since they were chosen to be one of the typical Zhejiang families, the pavilion staff video-recorded their lives, including parties, visits, meals, entertainment and special moments.
These videos of "today" are juxtaposed with more than 100 old photos of "yesterday" representing the family's history.
Both videos and photos appear to be scenes viewed through windows; Visitors can press buttons for "yesterday" and "today."
Through another big window, visitors can look out on Hangzhou, seeing not a fixed landscape but a moving scene of old and new that reflects changes over many years. Smaller changes can be glimpsed through smaller windows.
An old-fashioned radio, a wooden abacus, a black and white TV, dinnerware, books and various items from daily life are displayed.
"As we collected these old items and photos, we reviewed the history of our family and it was heartwarming to reminisce," says Wang.
"The family witnessed the development of Hangzhou, and they are also part of the city landscape," says Yang Qirui, general designer of the Zhejiang Pavilion from China Academy of Fine Arts. "They reflect the city's people-orientated policy."
The Wangs were also selected to be one of the models of a landmark sculpture built last year on Zhongshan Road.
The family has lived on Zhongshan Road since 1898 when great-grandparents opened Yuantai Silk Store there. Since then the family experienced the ups and downs of Hangzhou, and of China.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the store was already one of the three biggest silk stores in Hangzhou. But business was disrupted twice, once during the Japanese troop's invasion in the 1930s, and again beginning in 1952 when private enterprises became public-private enterprises.
Business didn't revive until 1998, when the Zhejiang government started to preserve famous old brands.
"I realized our silk quilts would again become popular as living standards improved," says 65-year-old Wang Xiqi. He and his nephew Wang Peng spared no efforts to rebuild their brand.
With a new name Jixiangfang (literally "auspicious workshop"), the Wangs restarted their business, again selling silk quilts and other silk products at the intersection of Zhongshan and Hefang roads.
The oldest family member, grandmother Wu Ruzhen, is chairman of the board and her grandson Wang Peng is general manager.
Jixiangfang was recognized as an "Old Brand of Zhejiang Province" and "Old Brand of China."
Business is flourishing as there's heavy traffic in the popular area.
Of the fourth generation of the family, the youngest is now a teenager. Six small households within the big family still live on Zhongshan Road.
"We were born and grew up on Zhongshan Road in Hangzhou," says Wang Xiqi. "And we have bought a house here to extend our big family."
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