Nanxiang Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall

Nanxiang Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall

The Nanxiang Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall is located at No. 260 Jiefang Street. Its construction began in June 2010 and took one and a half years to complete. With a total floor area of approximately 1,200 square meters and an exhibition area of over 1,000 square meters, the hall consists of five sections: the Preface Hall, Cultural Relics and Historic Sites, Historic Shops on the Street, Distinguished Figures and Prominent Clans, and Local Specialties and Customs, showcasing Nanxiang’s long history, rich culture, and distinctive local folklore.

In the Preface Hall, looking down reveals original relics from the site — the foundation stones of the Ming Dynasty bell tower, which were excavated at the end of October 2010 during renovation work on the old street. The two well-preserved stone column bases have a diameter of about 87 centimeters and are adorned with exquisite carvings. Inside the stone bases lies an intact brick-paved floor. Research confirms that the Preface Hall stands on the original site of the bell tower of Yunxiang Temple, built before the Ming Dynasty's Wanli era. One of the historic scenic highlights of Nanxiang during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, known as “The Bell Chime of the Buddhist Temple,” originated here. On the right is a map of Nanxiang’s ancient waterways from the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, showing the Hengli River and Shangchapu flowing north-south, and Zoumatang and Fengjiabang running east-west, with crisscrossing small canals throughout the town. This ancient waterway map recreates the once efficient and convenient water transport system of ancient Nanxiang, reflecting the thriving commerce and agriculture of the time. On the left is a map of Nanxiang Town from the Jiading period of the Qing Dynasty, with Yunxiang Temple situated at the center of the town, surrounded by interconnected roads and bustling markets, supporting the legend that Nanxiang developed into a town because of the temple.

In the exhibition hall, visitors can also see replicated cultural relics and historic sites, the seven renowned old shops on the old street that still enjoy great fame today, notable figures and prominent clans of Nanxiang, as well as local customs and specialties... The Nanxiang Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall undoubtedly provides a platform for people to understand the over 1,500 years of continuous humanistic spirit and historical culture of Nanxiang, and also serves as a classroom for patriotic education and local cultural studies.

The exhibition approach of the Nanxiang Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall breaks away from traditional relic display models. It combines high-tech methods such as sound, light, and electricity with relic displays, scene reconstructions, high-quality photographic materials, and multimedia aids. The integration of knowledge, fun, and interactivity offers visitors a refreshing experience.

Normally, to experience 3D effects, you’d need to go to a cinema and wear special glasses. But in this exhibition hall, visitors can watch the 3D-displayed process of making Nanxiang xiaolong (soup dumplings) with the naked eye. Stop by the 3D holographic display case on the second floor, and you’ll see servers chopping meat and wrapping xiaolong, diners enjoying the dumplings, freshly steamed hot xiaolong, busy restaurant staff, and patrons chatting over their meal. As you listen to a detailed explanation of the xiaolong-making process, you can also see the shop owner outside Rihua Xuan complaining about the late arrival of the pork delivery man, while vegetable vendors arrange their produce and call out to customers... These high-tech displays make visitors feel as if they’ve stepped into an authentic ancient world.

Women carrying tobacco pouches shout to sell cigarettes on the street, rice shop owners chat with customers, and street vendors busy themselves cooking wontons... The Historic Shops on the Street section uses dynamic projection technology to vividly and realistically depict the bustling commercial streets described as “A myriad of goods fill the markets, whose prosperity rivals even Suzhou.” Such a living, flowing depiction of “Prosperous Silver Nanxiang” shares a similar charm with the “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” painting displayed in the China Pavilion at Expo. “Cranes Singing by the Chaxi Stream” employs 3D special effects technology to present Nanxiang’s famous landmarks in a large-scale interactive multimedia format; “Bamboo Carving Techniques” uses projection technology to introduce the craft of bamboo carving. These boldly designed, uniquely styled exhibits not only reflect contemporary features but also align with aesthetic tastes, adding new cultural highlights to Nanxiang’s tourism.