Huize is famous for its "copper merchant culture" that has lasted for more than 3,000 years, and is known as the "copper capital in the south of the sky". During the Qianjia period of the Qing Dynasty, the copper smelting industry in Huize reached its peak.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Huizefu City took the central axis corresponding to the east, west, south and north gates as the longitude and latitude, and built a "ten"-shaped street, called East-West Street and South-North Street. The "ten"-shaped main street is connected with secondary streets and alleys to form a chessboard-like road pattern.
The residential buildings in Huize still have different styles such as two-entry courtyard, three-entry courtyard, one seal, heavy hall, three rooms and two ears, three squares and one screen wall, four-in-one five patios, Zoumazhuan turret, blue brick European style, etc. Various types of buildings.
The guild hall is a major feature of the ancient city of Huize, which records the historical echo of the prosperous period of Huize copper merchant culture. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the provincial chambers of commerce built a total of 108 guild halls, temples, and ancestral halls in Huize, and there are still 36 well-preserved ones, and 117 ancient residential houses, which are called "the capital of guild halls".
Guild hall buildings are often built in conjunction with temples dedicated to gods or even combined into one. In fact, the main functions of the earliest guild halls were to worship gods and ancestors, and the pursuit of joint interests was a matter of the development of the guild halls to a certain stage.
The guild hall, also known as Jiangxi Temple and Longevity Palace, was built in the 50th year of Emperor Kangxi (1711) of the Qing Dynasty. It is not only a religious building, but also an activity place for Jiangxi people to meet and discuss affairs. The gate tower with flying eaves and brackets, the exquisite architecture, reflects the financial resources of Jiangxi Copper Boss.
It is said that in those days, wealthy Jiangxi merchants spared no expense to obtain blueprints from Beijing, and invited woodcarving craftsmen from Jianchuan, Yunnan, and asked the carpenters to construct according to the style of the big stage in the Dehe Garden in the Summer Palace. Therefore, the ancient stage of the Jiangxi Guild Hall is called It is "Yuefu Fairy Palace", that is, the palace in charge of music and the palace where the gods live. This is a plaque on the stage, and it is also an excellent praise for the stage.
An important economic town and a coinage center, people and vehicles used to come and go, and the market was prosperous. The most interesting places in Huize are the residential areas of the ancient street, Erdaoxiang and Sandaoxiang. The former residence is surrounded by new residences, without the fate of being demolished or being forcibly renovated as in other cities, so it is full of earthy flavor.
Walking into the ancient city of Huize is like traveling through the streets and alleys of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Qingshiban Street with deep horseshoe marks reminds people of the caravans and post stations in the "Tiannan Copper Capital". People think of the wealth and tranquility of big families in the Ming and Qing Dynasties; the solemn and simple guild halls and temples remind people of the prosperity and glory gathered by merchants in those days.
The old houses here are lucky to have escaped the bad luck of being uprooted. The neighborhoods are composed of east-west and north-south streets, and the old houses still play the leading role. These old houses have not been deliberately refurbished, and local residents are still living in them.
Huize was very prosperous because of copper mining and minting coins. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the "Tanglang Copper Wash" cast and forged in Huize was famous far and wide. There is a commemorative coin with a diameter of 57.8 cm and a weight of 41.4 kg cast with "Jiajing Tongbao", which can be called the largest ancient metal in the world in terms of diameter and quality.
With the completion of Shicheng and the prosperity of copper mining, people from all walks of life from south to north accompanied by the bells of caravans, the symphony became the oldest and most beautiful symphony of Mount Wumeng. People from all corners of the country poured into Huize to build guild halls, temples, workshops, and industries. Huize became a "special economic zone" of the Qing government.
"Jiajing Tongbao" is 39 times enlarged on the basis of the prototype. It is 22.62 meters high and weighs 7777 kilograms. The 120-meter-long Rainbow Bridge passes diagonally through the square hole of Jiajing Tongbao. To commemorate this historical honor and glory, a huge coin stands in Huize Square, which has become an eye-catching scenery in the local area.