On this day, 132 years ago, on October 19, 1893 (September 10, 1893, the Shanghai Machine Weaving Bureau caught fire and burned down. On October 19, 1893, the Shanghai Machine Weaving Bureau caught fire and burned down. This bureau was established in 1878 at the initiative of Peng Rucong, a former Sichuan alternate road, and Li Hongzhang and Shen Baozhen approved the establishment. The factory is located in Yangshupu, Shanghai. Due to difficulties in raising funds, the reorganization was carried out in 1880. Li Hongzhang petitioned for the allocation of official funds, sent candidate Dao Zheng Guanying and Jiangsu candidate Dao Gong Shoutu to preside over the affairs, and requested permission to enjoy the patent for 10 years. It is stipulated that only domestic businessmen will be allowed to join shares within 10 years, and no separate bureau is allowed. The Shanghai Machinery and Weaving Bureau ordered a complete set of equipment such as ginning machines, spinning machines, and looms from the United Kingdom and the United States. It was the earliest mechanical cotton textile factory in the late Qing Dynasty. Due to the difficulties made by American technicians and the malpractices of feudal officials and the withdrawal of funds, the preparatory work came to a standstill. In 1887, 1890 and 1891, several reorganizations were held, with Tianjin business celebrities Yang Zonglian and Yang Zonghan presiding over the bureau affairs. After it was put into production in 1890, under the management of the Yang brothers, there were 35000 spinning spindles, 530 cloth machines, and about 4000 employees. The business began to prosper, earning a monthly profit of 12000 taels. On October 19, a fire broke out at the Qinghua Factory of the Weaving Bureau. The strong wind was fierce and rescue was not in time, resulting in losses of more than 70 million taels. Li Hongzhang appointed Weng Xuanhuai to be responsible for the reconstruction and renamed Huasheng Textile Factory.