The Ancient Architectural Complex of Huxi

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Huxi

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Huxi is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Huxi (including Heng Gate, Sihui Hall (No. 20 Qianshubu Street), Jiuxue Shufang (No. 23 Qianshubu Street), Wende Hall (No. 22 Houshubu Street), Wenkui Hall (No. 23 Houshubu Street), Shancheng Hall (No. 15 Lijia Lane), Shizhu Jiangzhou Residence (No. 10 Lijia Lane), Jingzhao Shijia Residence (No. 42 Lijia Lane), Caiyun Inn (No. 41 Lijia Lane), Tianshui Jiujia Residence (No. 25 Jiangxia), Tonghe Pawnshop (No. 34 Jiangxia), Guniang Courtyard (No. 27 Huangjiajing), Taizong Jiudi (Nos. 33 & 34 Huangjiajing), Gu Zhunti Pavilion Residence (No. 26 Mieqijie), Opium Den (No. 35 Mieqijie), Dye Workshop (No. 39 Mieqijie), Watchtower (between Nos. 4 & 5 Mieqijie), Dezhentang (No. 97 Shengli Road), Pinfang Inn (No. 57 Hongxing Road), Silversmith Shop (No. 135 Hongxing Road), Kejiu Hall (No. 37 Hongwei Road), Wharf Warehouse (Nos. 86 & 88 Hongwei Road), Shupu Home (No. 41 Zhoutou), Pengcheng Shidi Residence (No. 57 Zhoutou))

Huxi was one of the four major woodblock printing centers during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Woodblock printing began in Huxi in the mid-to-late Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, reaching its peak during the Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Daoguang reigns of the Qing Dynasty, continuing for over 100 years. Several renowned printing houses, such as Dawen Hall, Liangyi Hall, Shancheng Hall, Sanrang Hall, Wenkui Hall, Jiuxue Shufang, and Hongxing Shufang, operated for two centuries from the Kangxi to the Guangxu eras. Huxi’s printed books were distributed nationwide and were known as “Gan editions” or “Jiangxi editions.” The bookshops architectural complex consists of three north-south streets: Qianshubu Street, Houshubu Street, and Lijia Lane, interconnected by lanes, and once housed hundreds of woodblock printing workshops and shops. About 201 remain today, making it the only well-preserved ancient architectural complex in China that originated from woodblock printing and retains much of its original appearance.

On October 7, 2019, the Huxi Bookshop Architectural Complex was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Address: Huxi Town, Jinxi County, Jiangxi Province

Opening Information: Open to the public

Huxi Town: Located in the western part of Jinxi, Huxi Town borders Shushan Mountain to the east, Linggu to the west, the Fu River to the south, and an ancient post road to the north. With a long history, profound cultural heritage, rich humanistic landscapes, and abundant tourism resources, it is named after its location. It currently administers 10 village committees (Luocheng, Wanpeng, Xiachen, Zhongzhou, Rongfang, Jiaoling, Dingjia, Shanxia, Huangfang, Huxi), 3 neighborhood committees, 122 village groups, 73 natural villages, with 7,158 households and a population of 28,115, including 1,959 non-agricultural households and 6,917 non-agricultural residents. The total area of the jurisdiction is 71 square kilometers, accounting for 5.2% of the county’s total area, including cultivated land... More details about Huxi Town++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units