Interesting old commercial cities in China 1

 

Cellar-houses in Hongjiang, Hunan Province [Photo: Guangzhou Daily]

Since ancient times, China has already had her business civilization. Many old commercial cities clearly testified the long history. They have made use convenient river traffic to do their best in exchanging commodities with other areas in ancient China. Although today these cities' glory has faded, the profound culture and majestic architecture left we still see.


Hongjiang, Hunan Province 

Located at the point of intersection of Yuan and Wu Rivers, Hongjiang Ancient Business Town at Huaihua in western Hunan Province (湖南怀化洪江古商城), southwest to Changsha City (the provincial capital),  had been flourishing in the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644). At that time, it was the business center in southwest China. There were about a hundred commercial liaison bureaus from all over the country set up in town. In June 2006, Chinese government announced Hongjiang's architecture to become a key cultural relic for protection.

Walk along the alleys in the old town, go up along the stairs and see the cellar-houses on the hill. They are in architectural style that mixed of local and east China's Anhui Province. Monasteries and temples from the Ming Dynasty, mansions of local wealthy families from the Qing Dynasty as well as old government offices, banks, guesthouses, schools, and newspaper offices from early 20th century have built such an architectural spectacular in China business history.

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East and Middle China tours including Changsha, Hunan Province