Ruins of the Gansu Guild Hall and Zhili Guild Hall

　　Qitai County has a history of over 200 years as a county and was an important commercial hub on the New Northern Route (Grassland Silk Road) of the ancient Silk Road. Known as the “Strategic Crossroads of Five Routes,” the “Dry Port,” and “Golden Qitai,” it was a strategic military stronghold and a vital transportation hub and commercial center along the New Northern Route of the Silk Road. Since ancient times, it has been vividly described as “a thousand camels passing through Qitai and a hundred carts entering the ancient city.” Historically, it was as renowned as Hami, Urumqi, and Ili, collectively known as one of the Four Major Commercial Centers of Xinjiang.

　　During the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, the county's commerce and industry advanced rapidly, becoming a prosperous region in northwestern China. Merchants from all over the country flocked to Qitai, and wealthy traders from various provinces pooled funds to build dozens of guild halls—including the Gansu Guild Hall, Zhili Guild Hall, Sichuan Guild Hall, Shanxi Guild Hall, and Shaanxi Guild Hall—as well as over fifty temples of varying sizes. These served as venues for fostering local business cooperation, resolving issues, mediating commercial disputes, and strengthening community cohesion. The guild halls were spontaneously established civil organizations, representing a unique guild culture in frontier regions. They helped maintain harmony among people, supported public welfare initiatives, promoted education, preserved ethnic traditions, and celebrated cultural heritage—all contributing to social stability.