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Shedian Ancient Town, located in Sheqi County of Henan Province's Nanyang City, was first built in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Being a famous ancient commercial town with a history of more than 1,900 years, it was one of the Tea-Road stations  between China and Russia.

The small town, which covers 1.95 square kilometers, boasts many well-preserved ancient buildings and structures.  The ancient city is full of antique streets. There are walls, piers, streets, shops and houses left over from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Around the ancient city, it is surrounded by a wall of about 5 kilometers. Entering the ancient town,you can also visit the attractions inside the town, such as Shanxi-Shaanxi Hall,  Guangsheng Escort, Lijin Tax Bureau in the Qing Dyansty, the first private bank in Central China, the Tea Road of Fujian Hall, as well as the Fire God Temple.

Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall is one of the important attractions in the Shedian Ancient Town. The hall was built in the 21st year of Qing Emperor Qianlong (1756), and the whole building was divided into three front yards. The buildings on the central axis are: glazed wall, suspended building, stone archway, Dabaidian, Chunqiu Building (destroyed in war). When visiting the hall, visitors can pay more attention to the decorative art of the hall, such as wood carving, stone carving, brick carving, glass, color painting, palace lanterns, etc. Among them, the craftsmanship is very delicate. Shanshan Guild Hall was built by merchants from the provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi for native communal meetings. Hailing from the same places, members of the guild often feel the affinity with each other, when working together in cooperation.A statue of Guan Yu can be found inside the guild hall, as the merchants worshipped him as deity of wealth. As time passes, the guild hall gradually became a place for sacrificial offerings where locals pray to General Guan on the 1st and 15th of every lunar month. The tradition has been kept until today.

Shedian Town, Zhuxian Town in Henan's Kaifeng City, Foshan Town in Guangdong Province and Jingde Town in Jiangxi Province were known as the top four commercial towns in ancient China.

Travel Tips
Address: Near 9 Yongqing Street, Sheqi County, Nanyang City
Tel: 0377-67921873
Official website: http://www.sheqixianbowuguan.com/
Opening hours: Open all day