1. Chunghwa pencil

Chunghwa's history can be traced back to 1935 when the nation's first pencil enterprise was established in Shanghai by a Chinese businessman who used to study in Japan. In March 1954, the Chunghwa 101 drawing pencil was officially launched, marking the first time drawing pencils were made in China. Having weathered many ups and downs over a period of 80 years, the company now owns two brands, Chunghwa and Greatwall, which receive orders from 54 countries and regions around the world. Chunghwa has been the pencil of choice at various important meetings throughout history, and was also used by Chinese astronauts aboard the Shenzhou 7 during the country's third human spaceflight mission.

2. Shanghai Coffee

Founded in April 1935, Desheng Coffee Trading Company is recognized as the nation's first coffee producer and quickly gained popularity across the city. Its registered brand "C. P. C" was later changed to "Shanghai" in 1958, when it started production of its first iron-tin coffee. In 1959, the company was renamed again, this time to Shanghai Coffee Factory. A wider variety of products, such as coffee-tea, Lecovo (or lekoufu, a cocoa-flavored instant beverage), malted milk (or mairujing, a vanilla-flavored instant beverage), and a chrysanthemum-flavored instant beverage were launched in the following years. In 2013, the brand was revitalized with the introduction of new coffee products such as Italian coffee, blue mountain coffee and Colombian coffee.

3. Dragon and Tiger essential balm

This famous balm, also known as qingliangyou, is famous for its sharp odor and has been a popular choice for people seeking quick relief for headaches, sore muscles, insect bites and fatigue. Founded in 1911 by businessman Huang Chujiu, the company has a dragon and a tiger on its logo because the creatures are considered auspicious in traditional Chinese culture. Since its inception, the essential balm, which is widely hailed as the "oriental magic medicine", has been exported to more than 80 nations. The company developed a new product called the Dragon and Tiger Refresh Dew in 2009, and this was followed by the introduction of hand creams, lip balms, shower gels and shampoos in 2013 and 2014.

4. White Rabbit creamy candy

First manufactured in 1943 by a merchant from the Aipixi Candy Factory who was inspired by the taste of a British milk candy, the product soon became so famous that it was used as a gift item during the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Later, in 1972, then premier Zhou Enlai gave White Rabbit candies to then US President Richard Nixon during the latter's visit to China. The candies soon became popular overseas too, with many Americans giving it away as Easter gift that year. Since 2004, as part of diversified efforts to attract young customers, White Rabbit started to produce new flavors such as red bean, yogurt, chocolate, mint, maize, black candy and ice cream.

wang_ying@chinadaily.com.cn