Ancestral Hall of the Qi Clan

　　 Jiangnan’s No. 1 Ancestral Hall – The Qi Clan Ancestral Hall in Gan County. During the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Han, the military general Qi Sai was granted the title of “Marquis of Lin Yuan” for his meritorious service in defending the border. Additionally, during the Ming Dynasty, Qi Jiguang earned great merit in resisting Japanese pirates, hence the Qi Clan Ancestral Hall is honored as having “hereditary noble titles.” The current Qi Clan Ancestral Hall in Xiefu Village, Hujian Township, Gan County, known as the “Zhuiyuan Hall,” is the one that inherited these hereditary noble titles. The entire ancestral hall features an architectural style modeled after the Song Dynasty, exuding grandeur and covering an area of approximately 1,400 square meters. It was originally built during the Song Dynasty. The Qi Clan Ancestral Hall preserves many inscriptions and couplets by notable figures, such as the four characters “Loyalty, Filial Piety, Integrity, and Righteousness” inscribed by Zhu Xi, as well as couplets by Sun Yat-sen and Cai Yuanpei. Hujian Township not only has the relatively well-preserved Qi Clan Ancestral Hall but also the exquisitely built Xie Clan Ancestral Hall. Both ancestral halls are reputed as “Jiangnan’s No. 1 Ancestral Hall.”

　　 Hujian Township boasts a wealth of tourist attractions, including the Big and Small Lake Islets, the Huanyuan Pavilion on the “Road to the Netherworld,” the Jianguo Middle School and armaments factory founded by Chiang Ching-kuo, century-old tropical trees, and the picturesque reservoir bays. It is truly a rare gem for leisure and tourism.