Past and Present：
Shanghai was once the biggest publication center and the cradle of modern printing industry in China. Notwithstanding the prosperity of block-printing in Song and Yuan dynasties, large printing companies that are representative of modern printing industry did not appear in Shanghai until Commercial Press was established in 1897 and Zhong Hua Books Co. Ltd was established in 1912.
Henceforth, despite the vicissitude over the ages, Shanghai’s printing companies have had a large share in the whole China’s market. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the six decades have witnessed significant changes for Shanghai’s printing industry through adjustments and transformation especially since the reform and opening up of China in 1979.
In January 1995, Shanghai Printing Group Co., Ltd was established. In 2005, the controlling shares of the group went to Wenhui-Xinmin United Press Group and Shanghai Jin-win Investment Co., Ltd. SPGC currently has 15 holding companies and 9 shareholding companies.