Stele Prohibiting Salt Smugglers from Harassing Locals by Imperial Order in Xucun

Stele Prohibiting Salt Smugglers from Harassing Locals by Imperial Order in Xucun

The Stele Prohibiting Salt Smugglers from Harassing Locals by Imperial Order in Xucun is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The Stele Prohibiting Salt Smugglers from Harassing Locals by Imperial Order in Xucun is located between No. 18 and No. 19 along Yantang Street in Xucun Town, Haining. Facing west and built with bluestone, the stele stands 2.03 meters tall and 0.9 meters wide, and was erected in the sixth year of the Yongzheng reign (1728).

The inscription consists of 16 lines, with up to 55 characters per line, totaling over 800 characters carved in intaglio regular script. The top of the stele features cloud patterns,

and the center is inscribed in intaglio regular script with the words “Stele Prohibiting Salt Smugglers from Harassing Locals by Imperial Order.” It describes how salt smuggling was rampant in the Xucun area during the Yongzheng era, prompting the local county government to erect the stele as a permanent ban. This stele holds certain reference value for studying the salt industry in Haining during the early Qing Dynasty, while also confirming the role of Shangtang River in salt transport at that time. It proves that this section of the river remained navigable during the Qing Dynasty and was an effective part of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal transport system.

In January 2011, it was designated as part of the sixth batch of cultural relic protection units of Zhejiang Province.

Xucun Town: Located at the western end of Haining City, Xucun Town borders Yuhang District of Hangzhou. It lies 25 kilometers south of Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport and about 80 minutes’ drive north of Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. Its superior geographical location has provided strong momentum for Xucun Town’s industrial expansion. Recognized as a provincially approved small town, a civilized town of Jiaxing, and Haining’s first strong and key township, Xucun achieved an industrial output value of 10.197 billion yuan in 2003, becoming the first township in Jiaxing to surpass 10 billion yuan in total industrial economy. With a deep-rooted tradition of spinning and weaving, Xucun’s millennia-old industrial heritage has nurtured generations of skilled locals... More details about Xucun Town++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Zhejiang Province