1930 Leung Kai Fook Drug Store Advertising Map of Guangdong / Hong Kong

A promotional map of Canton / Guangdong (广东) / Hong Kong issued by the Leung Kai Fook Drug Store (梁介福). The map uniquely illustrates Chinese-Foreign relations through its unusual advertisements that use Western models to promote products to a primarily Chinese audience.

A Closer Look

The map is centered on the city of Guangzhou (广州; Canton), but covers the province of Guangdong as well as the adjacent island of Hainan. The map's most engaging and curious elements are advertisements for traditional Chinese medicines promising strength, power, freedom from addiction, pain relief, and more. It was distributed through Leung Kai Fook stores in Hong Kong.

The Pharmaceutical Advertisements

Among the Chinese pharmaceuticals advertised here are 'Sandal Berlin Gonorrhoa Pill', 'Leung Tsan Kee Anti-Opium Remedy', 'Axe Brand Universal Oil', and an animal-based power oil. The advertisements incorporate out-of-place figures, among them the 1930s Italian-American fitness icon Charles Atlas.

Leung Kai Fook Advertisement

The Leung Kai Fook Drugstore is a Singapore-based Chinese pharmaceutical company with annexes in Hong Kong and Shanghai. The firm was founded by Leung Yun Chee in 1928. Lee was sent to Singapore from China to do business development for a silk company. Their signature product was and remains 'Axe Brand Universal Oil', a cure-all compounded from an assortment of 'secret' ingredients.

Publication History and Census

This map was commissioned by Leung Kai Fook Drug Store and printed in Hong Kong by the Wing Fat Printing Company. Remarkably, both firms still operate. This map, however, remains one-of-a-kind with no other examples cataloged.