The Hall of Two Seas

The Hall of Two Seas

The Hall of Two Seas is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

The Qing-era Xingning Hall of Two Seas, commonly known as the Chaozhou Guild Hall, is located on Hebei Street in Xingning City. Constructed in the 11th year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty (1806).

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Ning River was a vital hub for water transport, linking the Dong River to the north and the Han River to the south. Flower boats, fishing boats, and cargo vessels moved back and forth in constant flow. The area around West Hebei Street thrived with docks, shops, songstress houses, and Baiji Tower doing brisk business. At that time, Chaozhou merchants in Xingning transported materials from places like Chaozhou, and Chaozhou craftsmen built the exquisite and delicate Chaozhou-style Guild Hall on the riverbanks of West Hebei.

The guild hall faces east and covers an area of approximately 1,000 square meters. Upon entering through the main gate, the various halls and courtyards are arranged in sequence along the depth of the site. The main hall is flanked by corridors on both sides, forming a symmetrical quadrangle layout. On the wall at the entrance of the first courtyard are two murals depicting panoramic views of Chaozhou.

The Chaozhou Guild Hall is not only an artistic gem among ancient Xingning architecture but also a revolutionary site of memorial significance. In March 1925, during the First Eastern Expedition, Zhou Enlai, then the Director of Political Department of the Expeditionary Army, met with leaders of the peasant movement here. During the Great Revolution period, it served as the site of the County Peasant Association.

In 1985, the Xingning Municipal People's Government designated it as a cultural relic protection unit. On July 17, 2002, it was included in the fourth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units