The Complete Chronological Biography of Tong King-sing, a systematic account of the life and innovative achievements of a leading industrial and commercial figure of the late Qing period, was launched recently in Zhuhai.

Tang Tingshu, also known as Tong King-sing, was a key pioneer of China's early industrialization. He founded the Kaiping Mines, China's first mechanized coal mine, which later evolved into the Kailuan Coal Mine, now one of the country's leading state-owned coal enterprises based in Hebei province.

Running to more than one million characters, the book offers a sweeping portrait of Tang, weaving together multiple narrative strands that range from his family to key people and events of the Self-Strengthening Movement, while tracing the major phases of his life and career.

Yu Heping, a research fellow at the Institute of Modern History under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the book draws on extensive source materials with a broad historical perspective to present a vivid picture of Tang's remarkable life and to provide an important reference for further studies of the enterprises he was involved in, including the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company and the Kaiping Mines.

"It also carries significant academic value for research on the Self-Strengthening Movement, socio-economic history and modern Chinese history, and is expected to further advance related studies," Yu added.