Xi Qin Guild Hall stands as a prominent building in the ancient town, yet it was constructed by outsiders. Why by outsiders? This question takes us back to the origins of the ancient town. During the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli period, a landslide blocked the Wu River, creating a beach; despite the disruption of transportation, business and life had to continue. As the saying goes, ‘A city thrives because of its people,’ and over time, many households, predominantly with the surname Gong, settled on this beach, giving rise to Gongtan.
In the Qing Dynasty’s Guangxu period, a merchant with the surname Zhang built the guild hall here, taking root and making friends. ‘An outsider’s monk knows how to chant scriptures well,’ and soon, he became a wealthy merchant in the region.Xi Qin Guild Hall: A Prominent Building in Ancient Town Built by Outsiders
Xi Qin Guild Hall stands as a prominent building in the ancient town, yet it was constructed by outs[...]
