Hans Bahlke – “General Merchant” of Peking

Hans Bahlke – “General Merchant” – ran a stationary and general store on Hatamen Street (Chongwenmen) in the early 1900s. As you can see in the photo here there was also a depot attached to the store. He sold postcards (photographed, printed and sold by Bahlke under his own brand), maps and souvenirs of Peking and the surrounding area. He also stocked newspapers, journals and books, novels particularly, in English, French and German advertising “First Class Authors Only” – I wonder who didn’t make the cut!! Bahlke also had a store in Tianjin and both sold German coffee, cigars, liqueurs and clothing items (see the ad below for a full list!)

In 1909 he published “Guide to Peking and Neighbourhood” which was published by the German newspaper in Tianjin Tageblatt für Nord-China. The usual guide to hotels, restaurants and sights with ads for newspapers, shops and hotels.