Hanging Pillar Gallery

　　The "Thousand Legs of Jiangnan," or Hanging Pillar Gallery, is a distinctive ancient residential complex situated in Zhangdu Town, southwest of Jing County. Built with tiled roofs and wooden plank frameworks, these houses combine storefronts with living quarters. One side of the buildings faces the river, supported by wooden pillars suspended over the Qingyi River, with the water flowing gently beneath — a scene rich with the charm of the Jiangnan water towns. Stretching one to two li in length, the structure consists of countless households connected end-to-end, supported by over a thousand wooden pillars, hence the name "Thousand Legs." Viewed from across the river, the black-tiled wooden houses line the bank like a long, continuous stretch, resembling a huge wooden raft floating downstream. At night, when the lights are on, their reflections shimmer on the water, creating a spectacular sight of "a myriad of lights above and below the water." Each individual household also resembles a lantern hanging from a pole, which is why it's also called the "Hanging Lantern Gallery." Moreover, because the main beams of the houses are supported by wooden pillars suspended in the air, it has earned yet another name: the "Hanging Pillar Gallery." A single architectural site with such vivid and diverse names reflects the ingenuity of its builders and the deep affection people hold for it.

　　The exact origins of Zhangdu Town remain unclear due to a lack of precise historical records. According to legend, during the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, Zhang Zongdao laid the foundation of the town and left a blessing that it would "stand forever." In fact, even earlier, during the Tang Dynasty, the poet Li Bai visited Jing County and wrote about Zhangdu as the "First Town West of the Region," pointing to its long history. Blessed with a superior geographical setting — nestled against mountains and facing the water — and situated along the Qingyi River, which was then the most prosperous transportation route in Jing County, the traditional Chinese principle of "building houses against mountains and settling villages by the water" led to rapid population growth in Zhangdu Town. It quickly flourished and became the second-largest commercial hub of ancient Jing County.

　　The old street of Zhangdu was built with wooden shops along the river on one side and rows of south-facing Ming and Qing dynasty architecture on the other. The street is over three meters wide. The riverside wooden buildings are said to date back to the mid-Ming Dynasty, totaling 108 structures supported by 1,080 wooden pillars standing firmly in the vast waters. For centuries, despite wind and rain — even when the river swelled over the street — these buildings have stood tall and unmoved. This resilience has long been a source of fascination for visitors from all over. Even Japanese architects have made special trips to see it. There are many legends about its history: some say that the Taoist master Zhang Tianshi of the Ming Dynasty pointed to this place as a feng shui treasure, while others claim that Liu Bowen, well-versed in astronomy and geography, had a hand in its planning. Based on my observations over the past thirty years, the real reason lies in the strong current of the tributary from Zhongcun Township at the upper left reaches of the river, which buffers the flow along Zhangdu’s riverside and ensures the safety of the "Hanging Pillar Gallery" wooden houses for hundreds of years.

　　Beyond its unique architectural landscape, Zhangdu’s old street is also steeped in revolutionary history. The famous Wannan Incident took place along the banks of the Qingyi River, where the blood of many New Fourth Army soldiers dyed the river red. Back then, a small dock at the end of the old street was where the beloved Comrade [redacted] and General Ye Ting disembarked from a bamboo raft. A short distance up the street, in a small wooden tavern, they held meetings to discuss and plan new combat strategies for the New Fourth Army. Just a dozen meters further down the street stands the former New Fourth Army supply station — a large Ming and Qing-style building capable of accommodating several thousand people. In those days, young enthusiasts from all over southern Anhui flocked here to enlist in the New Fourth Army and head to the front lines of the Anti-Japanese War. Nearby, just a few meters away from the supply station, there was an old civilian house that once served as the office of the first Jing County Committee of the ** (Party), as well as the original command center leading the county’s resistance efforts. Today, however, only a corner of the former supply station remains, while the site of the ** Jing County Committee is now a ruin overgrown with weeds.

　　Today, the rebuilt Hanging Pillar Gallery street still hints at the prosperity of its heyday. Six stone steps leading down to the river remind us of the bustling crowds that once shuttled between the docks and the street. The residential houses, wooden shopfronts, and workshops lined the riverbank in neat rows, curving along the water’s edge in an ancient and charming style. The residents here "open their doors to the street and push their windows to the river." The uniform wooden houses stand in a row, with the inner sides of their bases resting on foundations, while the outer sides are supported only by a few thick wooden pillars. A small clear stream flows alongside the "Hanging Pillar Gallery." This weathered yet distinctive architectural complex is said to be hundreds of years old, perhaps even older. To a large extent, Zhangdu Ancient Town owes its fame to the existence of the "Hanging Pillar Gallery." The harmonious unity between humans and nature gives this town an irresistible charm.