Preface
　　In the late 1960s, a young man carried stacks of fabric samples as he wandered through Taiwan’s bustling streets and alleys. Soaked to the bone by the scorching midday sun, his slightly frayed polyester shirt clung damply to his frame. That year, not many people paid attention to the slender young man—but right there in a busy street-side shop window, a TV was quietly broadcasting an advertisement: "Tomson Curtains: New imported styles now available, sweeping Taipei with their timeless elegance..."

　　That was Tang Junnian, in his twenties, tirelessly working to grow his business—Tangchen Curtain Fabric Company. He boldly leveraged the newly emerging popularity of television to launch a major advertising campaign. After just a few years of hard work, Tangchen Curtains quickly expanded to boast over 3,000 distributors and achieved an annual production output of 500 million yuan, laying the foundation for the Tang family’s first significant wealth.

　　The founder of the Tomson Group, who spent his life traversing across Taiwan, mainland China, and Hong Kong, is a figure whose later journey everyone now knows. As the political climate thawed following the 1992 Consensus, Tom Junnian, accompanied by his wife and children, returned to his hometown via Hong Kong—and from 1992 onward, he began investing in Pudong. Over the past 28 years, Tomson has stood alongside Pudong’s remarkable growth. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Pudong New Area’s development and opening-up, we pay tribute to Mr. Tom Junnian and the Tomson Group for their dedicated efforts in shaping Pudong’s transformation. At the same time, we honor this land itself—a place that continues to write one inspiring chapter after another.

Returning, yet never having left.
　　Tang Junnian, born in 1948 in Nanhui, Shanghai (now part of Pudong New Area), spent his early years not in Shanghai but in Hong Kong, where he moved with his father, Tang Yanghao, at the age of four. Upon arriving in Hong Kong, the family faced modest financial circumstances, yet young Tang quickly stepped in to help his father manage their business by the age of 18. In 1967, Hong Kong was gripped by social unrest and widespread anxiety. However, rather than succumbing to panic, Tang Junnian confidently predicted that the turmoil would soon subside. While others rushed to sell off their properties and flee the city, he urged his father to seize the opportunity—buying numerous shop units at bargain prices. From that moment on, Tang Junnian’s keen eye for emerging opportunities and his fearless willingness to take calculated risks began to set him apart.
　　Soon after, recognizing Taiwan's economic boom, Tang Junnian independently made the move to Taiwan to build his career—starting with a curtain company and later expanding into real estate. In Taiwan's Sanzhi City, Tang Junnian developed the sprawling "Tangcheng" industrial park, which became a hub for both factories and office spaces. At its peak, the project even set an unprecedented record, selling NT$30 billion (about RMB 7.4 billion) worth of properties in just two weeks.

　　It was during this time in Taiwan that Tang Junnian met the most important partner of his life—Xu Feng, the legendary "Heroine" who was at the peak of her fame in Hong Kong and Taiwan's film industry. Soon after, they tied the knot and went on to welcome two sons: Tang Zijia and Tang Jiacheng.

　　However, despite enjoying a comfortable life in Taiwan, Tang Junnian once again made a decision that seemed to go against the grain.

　　One day in 1986, Tang Junnian said to his wife, Xu Feng: "Pack up the two boys—our whole family is moving to Hong Kong." At that time, there was no direct contact between the mainland and Taiwan yet, and amid growing speculation about the "1997 handover," their Hong Kong-based friends were already weighing whether to emigrate abroad. Yet Tang Junnian firmly believed that their move to Hong Kong had a clear purpose: to keep one foot firmly planted in Hong Kong while keeping their eyes set firmly on the mainland. He explained, "China will never backtrack. Hong Kong is the most convenient and closest gateway for staying connected with the mainland. Before long, the mainland’s economy will start thriving again. By relocating here, we’re positioning ourselves to eventually return and invest back on the Chinese mainland."

　　Sure enough, as Chiang Ching-kuo allowed veteran soldiers to return to the mainland for family visits, the "Measures for Taiwan Residents Visiting Relatives on the Mainland" were officially implemented on December 1, 1987. With cross-strait relations finally blossoming, Tang Junnian's judgment was once again proven correct.

　　However, it wasn’t Tang Junnian who first entered the mainland—instead, it was his film producer wife, Xu Feng. Starting in 1988, Xu Feng dedicated herself to fostering collaboration among filmmakers from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and across Hong Kong and Macau, producing a series of films together. Among them was the legendary masterpiece *Farewell My Concubine*, which would later go on to achieve international acclaim.

　　In 1992, while visiting the cast of "Farewell My Concubine" in Beijing, Tang Junnian was received by the then-Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. The director suggested he might want to take a look around Shanghai. Promptly responding to his homeland's call, Tang Junnian eagerly returned to Shanghai—his hometown.

　　In Shanghai, the then-Mayor of Shanghai received this Taiwanese businessman—whose ancestral roots trace back to Nanhui—and provided him with a detailed overview of Shanghai's recent developments as well as the ambitious long-term plans for Pudong. With both his businessman's keen insight and a poet's passionate vision, Tang Junnian spent more than 20 days exploring Pudong. On the day he inspected the proposed golf course site, Tang waded through reeds towering over head, turning to Xu Feng by his side and declaring, "This is exactly where our golf course will be." Later, recalling the moment, Xu Feng remarked: "It was hard to imagine that a place requiring four hours to reach from Puxi—a region dominated by endless stretches of withered grass, winding canals, muddy swamps, and scattered mounds of earth, with not a single decent road in sight—could one day transform into what we see today. After all, Tang Junnian’s imagination seemed even more extraordinary than mine, a filmmaker who dreams big every day."

　　Following this, the Tomson Group entered Pudong as the largest Taiwanese-invested enterprise at the time. Its first notable move was investing a staggering $30.4 million to secure Plot 2-2-1 in the Lujiazui Finance & Trade Zone of Pudong—today’s Tomson Financial Building, located at the intersection of Dongfang Road and Zhangyang Road. Just one month later, on July 9 of the same year, the company outbid the runner-up by nearly double, paying $92.36 million for what is now a 1.4-square-kilometer site that includes both the Tomson Golf Course and residential land. Notably, these two plots marked the very first and second properties in Pudong’s history to undergo international bidding and tendering. Prior to this, most of Pudong’s development had relied on negotiated transfers, with many land parcels handed over during the central government’s initiative to mobilize neighboring provinces and cities in support of Pudong’s rapid growth. Tomson’s official entry into the market in 1992 thus signaled the formal transition of Pudong’s real estate sector into a fully market-driven development phase. During the groundbreaking ceremony for the golf course, Tomson Junnian met with Shanghai officials overseeing Pudong and agreed to allocate an additional $35 million to acquire adjacent land near the golf course—land that would later become the prestigious Tomson Haoyuan residential community.

　　After that, in 1995, Tomson constructed the "Tomson International Trade Building" and the "Tomson Waigaoqiao Industrial Park" in the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone. Also in 1995, Pudong’s first 5A-grade office building, the "Tomson Financial Tower," was established in the Lujiazui Finance & Trade Zone. At the request of Pudong’s local government leadership, Tomson partnered with Jinjiang International Group to introduce cutting-edge hotel management practices, leading to the opening of Pudong’s first five-star hotel, the "Xinya Tomson Grand Hotel," in 1996. That same year, Pudong’s first upscale, international-standard business center, the "Tomson Business Center," also began operations. In 1997, the world-class 18-hole, par-72 "Tomson Golf Course" was completed, giving rise to Pudong’s first golf club, the "Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club."

　　Tomson moved quickly to establish his presence, yet he often had to contend with skepticism from those around him. Back in 1996, when the New Asia Tomson Grand Hotel first opened, the streets of Zhangyang Road outside its windows were eerily quiet—so much so that not a single person could be seen, let alone vehicles; even at night, there was barely a trace of car headlights. Undeterred, Tomson Junnian turned to his wife, Xu Feng, and confidently declared, "Just you wait—within two decades, this road will undoubtedly become the liveliest spot in Lujiazui."

　　After this, Century Villas, Tomsun Haoyuan, Tomsun Yiyuan, Tomsun Haoting, Tomsun Hutting Garden—along with the Zhangjiang Microelectronics Port Industrial Park, developed in collaboration with Zhangjiang—and Zhangjiang Legend Plaza... Tomson’s real estate investments have been almost entirely concentrated within Pudong’s 522-square-kilometer area. It’s rare for a company to maintain such a focused approach on developing and building within a single region over such an extended period. All of this stems from Tomson Jun’s unwavering confidence in Pudong.

Believe, therefore see
　　Standing today hundreds of meters high above the Huangpu River, overlooking Shanghai as it stretches from south to north, the vibrant energy of this "Ten-Mile Foreign Field" feels vividly alive. If the Bund represents the most iconic historical snapshot of modern China, then Lujiazui on the opposite bank stands as one of the most significant economic symbols of the past four decades of reform and opening-up.

　　However, three decades ago, this place was nothing more than reeds as tall as a person and endless stretches of muddy swamps. It was right here that Tang Junnian arrived—and made a move that would prove profoundly significant, securing several of the most pivotal plots of land, including the future site of Tangcheng Yipin. Today, this project isn’t just set to become a landmark highlight in Pudong’s luxury housing market; it’s also destined to weave a complex tale of both triumph and tragedy, cementing its place as a legendary chapter in Lujiazui’s storied history. To today’s observers, it might seem like nothing more than a shrewd investment by Tangcheng back then—but for Tang Junnian, it was an all-in commitment, pouring his entire life savings into a single, daring venture.

　　Because in Tomson's eyes, Shanghai is the leader of China's economic development, boasting top-tier talent advantages, a high degree of internationalization, and limitless business opportunities. Even more valuable is the Shanghai municipal government's efficient and standardized approach to governance. Tom Junnian often says he returned to Pudong driven by his deep-rooted connection to his hometown—and fueled by unwavering confidence in Pudong's development policies.

　　Over the 30 years of development and openness, Pudong has never disappointed those who believed in its potential. Data shows that Pudong’s GDP soared from less than 6 billion yuan in 1990 to surpassing 1 trillion yuan by 2019, accounting for nearly one-third of Shanghai’s total economy. Perhaps all of this has already unfolded exactly as Mr. Tang Junnian had envisioned.

　　The rise of a nation and the prosperity of a vibrant region are by no means achieved overnight through mere slogans or isolated initiatives. Pudong’s development and opening-up journey has weathered countless storms—complex, unpredictable, and at times even met with widespread skepticism. In 1997, during the "Southeast Asian Financial Crisis," public opinion turned sharply against Shanghai, with many investors considering pulling out. As banks across Southeast Asia scrambled to collect their umbrellas from developers caught in the "downpour," Hong Kong and Taiwan’s property markets plunged into deep recession. Meanwhile, companies that had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Pudong found themselves unable to quickly recover their investments. This financial strain pushed Tomson Holdings, deeply rooted in Hong Kong and Taiwan, to the brink of massive financial pressure—and for a time, overseas media even joked that Tomson had become "the biggest investor stuck in the rain."

　　At the most challenging moment, Tang Junnian paid a visit to Zhao Qizheng, the vice mayor then in charge of Pudong—a time when Zhao himself was grappling with immense pressure from the global financial situation. Yet, the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government showed understanding toward Tangchen’s predicament, encouraging the company to carefully weigh the development prospects across Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mainland China. They even arranged for leaders from both municipal and district levels to help create room for Tangchen to navigate its financial difficulties in Shanghai. This gesture once again boosted Tang Junnian’s resolve. To weather the crisis, Tangchen sold off its top-tier real estate assets and its most prestigious publicly listed company in Hong Kong—actions that, at the time, sparked discontent among some in Hong Kong and even led to years of legal battles. Despite these challenges, Tangchen remained committed to sustaining its operations in Shanghai. Throughout his career, Tang Junnian had always been adept at reading the market—and this experience only reinforced his belief that, ultimately, only time would reveal who truly held the upper hand. As he reflected on the situation, he confidently declared: “Rest assured—this place will undoubtedly become the epicenter of the global economy in the years to come.”

　　Tomson's unwavering commitment and dedication have earned the steadfast partnership of Pudong. In November 1996, Tom Junnian was awarded Shanghai’s prestigious "Magnolia Honor Award," along with the title of "Honorary Citizen of Pudong New Area" and the inaugural "Outstanding Talent in Pudong Development and Construction" prize. In 1998, Tomson Group was recognized as one of Shanghai’s "Six Excellent Taiwanese-Invested Enterprises." In April 2009, Tom Junnian was honored by Pudong New Area as an "Out-of-Region Individual Who Has Made Significant Contributions to Pudong’s Development." By 2005, Tomson Group had already received accolades such as the "Top 10 Best Foreign-Invested Real Estate Companies" award and the "Decade-Long Consecutive Recognition for Being an Outstanding Collective." Meanwhile, its flagship projects continued to win numerous prestigious awards.

Rooting the future in this city
　　In 2000, as Tomson emerged from its "predicament," Tom Junnian gradually began entrusting the responsibility of running the family business to his sons, Tom Zijia and Tom Jiaceng—and devoted his lifelong passion to building Tomson One.

　　From the moment they acquired the land where Tomson One stands today, Tomson’s team has been relentlessly exploring how to create a project that embodies Shanghai’s future development. After 11 years of meticulous planning and refinement, the design underwent countless iterations—each idea innovated, only to be scrapped and reimagined again. Even the roof’s distinctive shape alone was revised 36 times before finally settling on a design inspired by the official hats worn by high-ranking officials during China’s prosperous Han and Tang dynasties. To top it off, the building’s height was carefully set at an unprecedented 153 meters—pushing the boundaries of what was considered the ultimate luxury in Shanghai real estate at the time. As for the smallest apartment, it measures just over 430 square meters, a layout directly inspired by the living space Tomson Junnian’s own mother enjoyed in her Hong Kong residence. What does this signify? Simply put, entering Tomson One means buyers must first meet the daunting challenge of affording its sky-high total price—a hurdle that many subsequent luxury developments in Shanghai have struggled to replicate. After all, when you combine ultra-high unit prices with expansive floor plans, selling such premium properties inevitably proves to be a slow process. For mainland Chinese developers today, who often prioritize rapid turnover and efficiency, this approach would be virtually unimaginable.

　　Unfortunately, despite his boundless ambition and passionate dedication, Tang Junnian couldn’t withstand the relentless pressure of managing his business. Devoted entirely to his work, he never lived to see the completion of the prestigious Tangcheng Yipin project. In 2004, exhausted both physically and emotionally, Tang Junnian passed away due to complications from diabetes.

　　It feels like a metaphor—Tomson One, the ultimate goal that Tom Junnian once dedicated his life to achieving. Now proudly standing tall on the site of what was once a reed-filled shoreline in Lujiazui, it soars gracefully above the bustling development unfolding along both banks of the Huangpu River. Yet, those at the foot of the mountain can only look up in awe—they’ll never truly grasp or accept the reality that this majestic edifice wasn’t built overnight. Only those who persistently climb its towering heights understand: great triumphs and monumental achievements are the fruits of relentless effort, not fleeting dreams.

　　Standing tall at the tip of Lujiazui, Tomson One has long evolved from being merely the flagship project of the Tomson Group to becoming a totem representing Pudong to the world, growing alongside Pudong’s development. The second generation of Tomson people now stands at the forefront of Pudong’s 30 years of development and opening-up, bearing even greater responsibilities.

　　Tomson's roots are firmly planted in Shanghai—and even more specifically, in Pudong. In fact, they’re deeply anchored in the city’s future. Today, the new generation of Tomson leaders shares the same unwavering confidence as their predecessors: a deep belief in the economic prospects of both the nation and this vibrant city.

　　Tang Zijia said that Tomson has benefited from Shanghai's prosperity and has grown alongside the city. "The booming property market is both a reflection of the nation's overall development—and a direct result of Shanghai's urban growth. We’re not fixated on short-term price fluctuations; instead, we’re focused on the city’s long-term development trajectory, which will ultimately deliver more stable and sustainable returns: the dividends of Shanghai’s rising urban value."

　　How many years have passed—yet that youthful figure, once bustling through the streets and alleys, remains alive today, transformed instead into countless Chinese individuals who have settled in Shanghai’s Pudong district and taken deep root across the mainland, tirelessly working for the nation’s development and progress. As Pudong marks 30 years of pioneering development and opening-up, a new era has truly arrived.
 

Resource reference:
　　"Taiwanese Entrepreneur Xu Feng: Tomson, Shanghai Over the Years"
　　"The Pudong Epic"
　　"Tomson in 2017: A Pioneer of Pudong, a Witness to Its Growth"
　　"Tomson: The Pioneer Who Invested 500 Million Yuan Annually in Pudong Development"
　　"An Exclusive Interview with Tang Zijia by *Xinmin Weekly*"