Refosian

Refosian is a store specializing in selling silk and fur. The founder of the store, Meng Chuanshan, is the descendant of Mencius. It is said that there was an insect named “Fo” that has a similar appearance with cicada, and according to ancient stories, this kind of insect can bring money back to the owner; therefore, the owner named his store as Refosian, hoping that his business would be successful and fortunate.

Found in Qing Dynasty, Refosian has received plenty of honors, including Chinese Time-honored Brand; The Best Silk Brand in China; Intangible Cultural Heritage and so on. The building of the store is a traditional quadrangle courtyard which remains its original look and is protected well. After the liberation, the fabric of the first national flag of the People’s Republic of China hung in the Tian’anmen Square came from Refosian.

It is said that Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, once got the inspiration from Refosian, and he praised that Refosian was the earliest chain operation enterprises in the world.