Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City

Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City

Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Built along the Yuan and Wu rivers, Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City took shape in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. It still retains over 2,000 ancient buildings covering an area of more than 100,000 square meters, faintly echoing the grandeur of its past as a major trade hub.

The streets in Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City are generally divided into two types: those that are flat, relatively straight, and long are called “streets,” while those built along mountain gullies are called “chongs.” The pathways formed between chongs and streets due to changes in terrain are called “alleys.” The streets and alleys are densely interwoven, with stone steps everywhere—narrow, winding, and, aside from the main street, the longest stretches around 500 meters, usually between 200 and 300 meters, and only 2 to 4 meters wide. The entire surface is paved with stone slabs, representing a typical ancient commercial city construction style.

Following the intermittent surviving bluestone paths of about three to four kilometers and the uneven stone steps of the docks, one can find a well-preserved expanse of temples, markets, post stations, government offices, banks, money shops, academies, schools, guildhalls, workshops, foreign firms, inns, opium dens, brothels, teahouses, and newspaper offices from the Ming and Qing dynasties through the Republican era. With their gray-tiled and pink-washed walls, carved beams and painted rafters, these structures exude an antique charm, covered in moss, vividly illustrating the layout of “seven chongs, eight alleys, and nine streets” documented in historical texts from over 300 years ago.

In the labyrinth-like streets and alleys of Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City, numerous mansions belonging to wealthy merchants and dignitaries are scattered, some even functioning as both warehouses and inns for accommodating visiting traders. These mansions are typically two-courtyard, two-story or two-courtyard, three-story buildings, enclosed by high fireproof walls made of blue bricks, with spacious central halls. They feature both dry and wet courtyards, and corridors paved with extremely flat large bluestone slabs, some of which are over three meters long. Even rarer are the entryways that each have a peace vat (tai ping gang) made of bluestone slabs (whereas others are typically ceramic)—the largest being about two meters long and one meter wide and high, with each side intricately carved with auspicious patterns. There are also circular or hexagonal ornamental fish tanks engraved with poetry, fish, dragons, flowers, and birds, demonstrating high artistic skill in calligraphy and carving, leaving visitors in awe.

Due to the large number of merchants from various regions frequenting the ancient commercial city, guildhalls were established to foster camaraderie among fellow townsmen and protect the interests of their respective communities. These guildhalls are located either in deep alleys or atop high slopes, each named after a “palace,” such as the Jiangxi Guildhall known as Wanshou Palace, the Fujian Guildhall as Tianhou Palace, the Baoqing Guildhall as Taiping Palace, and the Qishu Guildhall as Guansheng Palace. They include main halls, side halls, reception halls, living rooms, guest rooms, and stages, used for joint worship and maintaining hometown bonds.

The architectural style of Hongjiang Ancient Commercial City is a typical example of Ming and Qing southern Yangtze River construction methods, with distinct Yuan and Xiang characteristics. Each mansion reflects a harmony between man and nature. Built solely with brick, wood, and stone—without using even a single iron nail—these structures are sturdy, practical, and beautiful. The exquisite window lattices, panel doors, carvings, and delicately crafted railings, along with upturned eaves and flying rafters that seem ready to take flight, showcase complexity and detail yet maintain a simple and natural aesthetic, representing the pinnacle of ancient Chinese architectural art.

Ticket

120 RMB per person, half price for children

Opening Hours

8:00-17:00

Location

Hongjiang District, Huaihua City, Hunan Province (at the confluence of the Yuan and Wu rivers)