3. Competition on the Marine Route
While some Ningbonese were making success in finance, others were competing with foreign companies in shipping. After Shanghai Port was opened, steamboat shipping was monopolized by foreign companies. However, the Ningbo pioneers managed to break the monopoly by setting up a shipping company, which, after growing stronger, began the deep-sea shipping service.

Competing with Foreigners in Shipping After Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Ye Chengzhong, Chu Pao San and Li Houyou entered the shipping circle. They set up Dah Dah Steamboat Company, the then largest Chinese-funded shipping company, to compete with foreign companies.

Rapid Development of Maritime Shipping After Ningshao Steamboat Company was successfully founded, there appeared North Steamboat Company, which became the largest one at that time, and more Ningbonese entered this business. By 1921, there were more than 10 Ningbonese-funded steamboat companies, forming a Chinese “dream fleet”.

4. First Signs of “Made in China”
Using Western technology to develop China’s manufacturing industry was a major task for modern China. The finance industry controlled by Ningbo merchants helped Ningbo businessmen in Shanghai greatly in technological development. Taking advantage of Shanghai as the forefront of the world’s advanced technology, they have produced many “No.1s”in Chinese economic history.

China’s First Chemical Works  
In 1912, Fang Yexian, a native of Zhenhai, set up the China Chemical Works Ltd. The works produced Three Star mosquito incense, which finally forced Japanese Wild Boar mosquito incense out of China, and its Sword soap sold better than British Luck soap. Its Three Star toothpaste, completely developed and made in China, was very popular around the world. Three Star became a synonym of home-made products. Fang Yexian also founded Chinese Home-made Product Company and Chinese Home-made Product Consortium, winning him the honor of “Magnate of Home-made Products”.

China’s First Dyeing and Weaving Enterprise
In 1913, Wang Qiyu, a native of Dinghai, set up Dah Foong Dyeing and Weaving Works, the first and largest one in China in the 1920s, capable of spinning, weaving, dyeing, bleaching, printing and finishing.

China’s First Monosodium Glutamate Factory
In 1921, Zhang Yiyun and Wu Yunchu, both from Zhenhai, set up the first gourmet powder factory in China, Tian Chu Manufacturing Ltd. They broke the monopoly of Japanese in gourmet powder production and gave birth to the first Chinese chemical product winning an international patent.

China’s First Electric Bulb Factory
In 1921, Hu Xiyuan, a native of Zhenhai, developed the first electric bulb in China. He partnered with a German to set up Oppel Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd. In 1925, when he became the sole investor, he renamed it China Oppel Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd, whose bulbs were widely used in China. In 1946, the first fluorescent light in China was successfully produced in the factory.

China’s First Worsted Woolen Hair Weaving Works
In 1931, Chen Xianben and others set up Dah Loong Woolen Fabric Works and produced worsted serge, gabardine, and fany suiting with imported wool yarns. In the next year, in the light of the January 28 Incident, the works took “128” as a brand name, and their products were readily sold. The company was the first that produced worsted woolen fabric in Shanghai.

China’s First Private Instrument Plant
In 1925, Robert Ding, a native of Zhenhai, founded China Scientific Instrument Hall. Two years later, he founded China Scientific Instrument Company in Shanghai, whose products like ammeter started the history of Chinese-made physics apparatus and experiment equipment.