Ancient architecture unveils splendor of Bozhou

Located in Anhui Province, Bozhou City was a key location for communication during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC). It developed as a transportation hub for trade during the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties and reached its heyday during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, serving as an economic center for the region.

Beiguan Historical Block, which is the oldest street in Bozhou City, was built in 1656. In 2023, the block was listed as one of China's national-level tourism and leisure blocks thanks to its wealth of history and culture.

There were around 150 streets in Bozhou City during the Qing Dynasty, of which 57 were located in the Beiguan business district.There were commercial clubhouses from more than 10 provinces and regions established there, among which the Huguang Guild Hall, Henan Guild Hall and Flower Peking Opera Theater were the largest and busiest.

Later, there were 33 banks and nearly 1,000 different shops in this area.Nowadays, Beiguan Historical Block is made up of a network of around 20 ancient streets, each retaining their original appearance and elegant architectural style.

The Flower Peking Opera Theater has been expanded many times to cover an area of over 3,000 square meters. The name of the theater derives from the exterior of the building, where many scenes from local operatic dramas were recreated as colorful patterns and decorations on its walls. The Hui architectural style of micro-carving art is also beautifully preserved on the brickwork of the building.

Built in 1825, the Nanjing Lane Bank was one of the earliest banks established in Anhui Province. It is also the most well-preserved old bank building in China, featuring the classical Hui architectural style. Physical objects and wax figures have been combined with the use of advanced technology to recreate scenes from inside the bank. Old Chinese coins from different periods are also on display there.

There are many other ancient relics worth exploring, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about the rich local history and culture.