Zhang Jian Memorial Hall. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

The Zhang Jian Memorial Hall, which is located in Changle town, Haimen district, Nantong, will be expanded to meet the increasing demands of visitors, local media outlets reported.

A new exhibition hall will be built about 74 meters north of the old one, covering a floor area of over 8,400 square meters. It will be constructed in accordance with the standards for a national 5A scenic area and is expected to receive 130 million yuan ($20.22 million) in investment.

The old memorial hall was built in the 1980s to pay tribute to Zhang Jian, a famous Nantong industrialist and renowned academic. It has fulfilled its duty in patriotism education and promoting Zhang Jian's entrepreneurship to more people, yet can no longer meet the increasing demands of visitors.

Officials said that the new hall will comprehensively display Zhang's achievements in developing modern industry, education, and charity, as well as the urban development of Nantong in modern history.

Zhang Jian (1853-1926) was one of the 114 scholars awarded the prestigious title of Zhuangyuan (No 1 Scholar) during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

He led industrial and educational reforms in China by founding the country's first large cotton spinning factory – the Dasheng textile factory – in his hometown of Nantong in 1899, as well as the first teacher's college for women in China.

He turned Nantong into a modern model city by setting up schools, shops, docks, and companies involved in oil extraction, flour milling, and iron and silk production.

He brought electricity to Nantong and created parks and public buildings, including the city library, the Junshuan Observatory, the Gengsu Theatre, and China's first museum – the Nantong Museum.