Qu Benqiao (1862 -1919)

Qu Benqiao, a pioneer of Shanxi's national industry, was born in an eminent family, which grew and thrived through tea trade.

He was appointed by the government as China's chancellor in Yokohama, Japan in 1903, and was greatly inspired by Japan’s fast-growing modern industries.

Upon his return from Japan, Qu bought a government- owned match factory with 5000 silver dollars (Chinese old currency) in 1906, starting the era of national industries in Shanxi.

During the campaign of protecting coal mines at the end of Qing Dynasty ((1644-1911), Qu raised 1.5 million silver dollars to acquire the control of coal mines from foreign investors, thereby initiating local ownership of the coal mining industry in Shanxi.