If you ever need to know what time is, Tang is your man

Anting farmer and watch collector Tang Fuqing

Shanghai’s finest

Tang’s collection of watches

Liu Jingxian and Shen Li

Tang Fuqing, a farmer from Huangdu in Anting Town has been collecting watches since 2003 and now has a collection of more than 3,000.  

His interest began when mobile phones were becoming popular and many people disposed of their timepieces.  

Tang spotted a Shanghai brand watch at a street vendor’s stall which looked new but was priced at just a few dozen yuan. He bought it without hesitation.
He started to visit other street vendors, watchmakers, antique markets and even a recycling depot that bought old watches.

Once he was traveling with his in-laws when he suddenly “disappeared” because he found a 150-year-old Titoni watch made in Switzerland.
Tang’s collection includes brands such as Shanghai, Jiefang, Diamond, Rolex, Titoni, Longines and Omega.

The Shanghai brand is the 67-year-old’s favorite. He has a 1958 half steel A581, a version of which was worn by the late Premier Zhou Enlai.