1.8.1 Man of The House
A 16 years old Hakka teenage, Cheong, followed the route of many Chinese fortune seekers, heading to the Southest Asian region known as Nanyang, or ‘Land of Opportunity’. Moneyless, supplied with only resolution and a driving need to prove himself, Cheong struggled through hard work. Born and raised up from being a ‘bearer of river water’ in his early years, Cheong’s ascent was aided by a merchant father-in-law who perceived potential in the young man, whom he helped establish in the business world. Putting and adapting himself into the world of entrepreneurship, Cheong Fatt Tze invested in banks, glassworks, cattle, wines and textiles. As his empire grew, he began operating steamships, eventually begin to establish a trans-Pacific shipping line between China and the United State. His was certainly a success story of which legends are made as he became one of the richest men in Southeast Asia. Cheong Fatt Tze went on setting up his very own winery in the year of 1892. Founded in China’s Shantung province, Chang …show more content…
The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion was built between 1897 and 1904. It was one of the many mansions houses owned by Cheong Fatt Tze, who had properties from Java, Sumatra, Penang, Singapore, Hong Kong to China. The mansion at his home village, Dapu, was much larger in size than Blue Mansion, but Blue Mansion is still his treasured residence. Towards Cheong Fatt Tze’s later life, the house served as both office and home. It acted as the foundation of his commercial enterprise and housed the Chinese Vice- Consulate and not to mention, his beloved 7th wife. All his 8 sons were raised in Blue Mansion and all received English education from St Xavier's Institution, which is located opposite the