Hankou Art Museum, housed in a classical and majestic nearly century-old building, stands as one of China's rare art museums situated in a structure of such historical vintage. Should you encounter the inscription "Jincheng Bank," that denotes its former identity as the Hankou branch of Jincheng Bank. Once a pivotal private bank in China, the original Hankou Jincheng Bank was constructed in 1931 under the design of Zhuang Jun, a pioneering figure in Chinese architecture (often revered as the dean of Chinese architects).
The Jincheng Bank's main facade adopts Western classical colonnade style, with columns reaching up to three stories high. Circular arch windows are set at the second floor level, creating a magnificent and imposing view from the colonnade while introducing subtle architectural variations. In 2003, planning commenced for the establishment of the Wuhan Art Museum within this historic structure, which has since become a testament to the passage of time across different eras.
