Fotang Ancient Town

Fotang Ancient Town

The Fotang Ancient Town in Yiwu is a historic residential complex that integrates the three major elements of architecture, painting, and carving.

Within the scope of the Fotang historical and cultural town, there are over a hundred important historical buildings and traditional residences, most of which were built during the Qing Dynasty and the early Republican period. Compared to typical Jiangnan-style homes, although both feature white walls and black tiles, the ancient architecture of Fotang differs from ordinary Jiangnan structures. Its exterior inherits the horse-head gables of Huizhou-style houses, while the detailed decorations as well as architectural structure and construction incorporate unique local craftsmanship in wood, brick, and stone carving. Moreover, the carved floral patterns and designs are rich in meaning and exquisitely crafted.

Fotang Ancient Town has a long history and is dotted with historic sites. Currently, within the ancient town, municipal-level cultural heritage protection units include Liugeng Hall, the Stone Archway of Chastity, Mao Family Courtyard, Wu Qiji Residence, Liuxuan Primary School, and Youlong Ancestral Hall; municipal-level cultural heritage protection sites include Wang Zehua Residence, Eighteen Rooms, Zhang Sanmao Hall, New Nanshan Residence, and Zhihuai Hall.

Traveling from north to south along the town, the Puchuan Stream flows from east to west through the town, along with the distant mountains faintly visible in the background, the ancient camphor trees standing prominently nearby, and the region’s mild natural climate—all of which contribute to the enchanting natural scenery of Fotang Ancient Town.

Approaching the ancient town from the west side of the river via the “Wanshan Bridge,” you’ll reach the Xinshiji area by the old street, where there is an over 800-year-old camphor tree with a trunk diameter of about 1.8 meters, its towering branches exuding a sense of antiquity and mystery. Another ancient camphor tree stands in a distant echo to this one, also located in Xinshiji. Meanwhile, at the ferry dock, there is an old hackberry tree estimated to be around 300 years old.

Fotang Ancient Town is a place of outstanding geographical and human talent, having attracted a gathering of notable figures throughout the centuries. Important individuals closely associated with the prosperity of Fotang include: the highly respected Buddhist figure Fu Daoshi in Chinese Buddhist circles, anti-Wokou heroes such as Qi Jiguang and Chen Dacheng, the prominent Northern Song official Wang Yanchao, the renowned Confucian scholar Xu Qiao, and medical sages such as Xu Xing and Wang Yuxiu.