Xianxia Slope

Xianxia Slope

Xianxia Slope is a cultural heritage site protected by the Anqing municipal government.

As one of the Thirteen Slopes of Anqing, Xianxia Slope connects Yulin Road to the south, Longmenkou Street to the north, Sixia Slope to the east, and Yuhong Street to the west, stretching 245 meters in total. The top of the slope was the site of the Huaining County government office during the Qing Dynasty, hence the name “Xianxia.”

Xianxia Slope runs from south to north and is paved with bluestone slabs. It slopes gently from the south and steeply from the north. Compared to the other twelve slopes, Xianxia Slope can be described as "broad and majestic." Not only is the slope very wide, but every three to five steps also feature a broad, gently inclined step that serves as a smooth transition. Both sides of the slope are lined with bluestone slabs laid along the incline, as if adding a neat border, which enhances its dignified appearance. A few meters away on either side of the slope are scattered large residential houses ascending in tiers, which do not feel cramped or narrow but rather spacious and impressive. In the past, the top of the slope housed the county government office, and there were several memorial archways along the slope, exuding solemnity and authority. These features set it apart from the other twelve slopes, leading local residents to call it the grandest of the Thirteen Slopes.

According to the *Huaining County Annals*: “The Tongshan Pharmacy was located on Xianxia Slope. Established by the government during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, it provided free medical consultations for the poor, with annual funding supplied by the government.” Although the pharmacy had no power of administrative intervention or economic sanction, it regulated medical practitioners through scheduled duty rotations and “official prescription copies,” requiring them to prepare medicine according to prescribed formulas. This marked the early form of a pharmaceutical regulatory body. Perhaps it was the only administrative institution to have been located on Xianxia Slope for hundreds of years.

At the base of Xianxia Slope, there used to be tofu workshops, carpentry shops, tobacco and liquor stores, oil mills, and tea stoves. On the eastern side of the slope, there was a winding alley leading to Sixia Slope, while slightly further down on the opposite side, a small path led to Yuhong Street. To the north of this path was the back wall of the former Anqing Welfare Factory, and to the south lay a stretch of lush green vegetable fields. Taking shortcuts, I often crossed Xianxia Slope from Yuhong Street to reach Sixia Slope and head to the city center.

Xianxia Slope was once home to seven or eight large residential houses, such as the He Family Residence, the Yu Family Residence, and the Zheng Family Residence... These homes featured deep courtyards, with the last section of each compound including a garden terrace—“traces of the terrace green on the steps, the color of grass entering the curtain.” Noteworthy structures include the Dalei Apartment and the Huizhou-style building “Mingfeng Li.” Dalei Apartment was built by a local gentleman from Wangjiang, while “Mingfeng Li,” situated at the upper end of the slope, offered an unobstructed view of the western part of the city. Before its redevelopment, it was common to see three or five students painting and sketching here.

Behind the old foundation of “Mingfeng Li” lies “Gaogang Mingfeng,” which was built in the early years of the Republic of China by Cheng Mingluan, then vice president of the Anhui Provincial Chamber of Commerce. The building consists of two sections with a total of 31 rooms, featuring both three-bay and two-bay layouts. The ground floor also included shop spaces, mainly rented out to the owners of nearby money shops who resided in Anqing. Although “Gaogang Mingfeng” retains its original layout, the eaves and boards have peeled off, the blue tiles are disheveled, the interiors are dilapidated and cluttered, dark and damp, and the wooden staircases are broken and incomplete. The wooden railings on the corridors are severely damaged, leaning and askew. The old residence no longer displays the architectural splendor of traditional Qing-era buildings, such as upturned eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters.

Another notable structure on Xianxia Slope is the Earth God Temple. In the past, it enjoyed a thriving patronage and was the subject of many legends and stories. Even after redevelopment, it has been preserved, which is certainly an interesting fact.