The Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu Guild Hall (山陕甘会馆), located in Kaifeng City, Henan Province, was established in the 41st year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign in the Qing Dynasty (1776). It was constructed through the joint efforts of wealthy merchants from the provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu, on the site of the former residence of Xu Da, a founding father of the Ming Dynasty. This guild hall served as a hub for merchants and traders from these three provinces during the Qing Dynasty, facilitating commerce, trade, and fostering camaraderie among fellow provincials for over 200 years. Additionally, it also houses a temple dedicated to Guan Yu, promoting the virtues of integrity and righteousness esteemed by the Shanxi merchants.
The layout of the guild hall follows a quadrangle courtyard style, covering an area of 3870.29 square meters. The main structures are aligned along the central axis, with the south to north sequence comprising a screen wall, a theater stage, an archway, and the main hall. Auxiliary buildings are situated on the east and west sides, including side gates, flower gates, bell and drum towers, wing rooms, and cross-courtyards.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu Guild Hall
- Vlog about the Guild Hall
- Attractions near Shanxi, Shaanxi and Gansu Guild Hall
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | 25 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 8.00 – 18.00 (1st May – 31st October) 8.00 – 17.30 (1st November – 30th April) |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0371-25957411 0086-0371-25954801 |
Location and Transportation
The Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu Guild Hall is situated at 85 Xufu Street, Longting District, Kaifeng City, Henan Province, China. To get there, you can take bus 1, 13, 15, 31, or 34, get off at Xinjiekou Stop (新街口站), and walk about 300 meters to the southeast.
Highlights of Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu Guild Hall
Wood Carvings
Renowned for its exquisite brick, stone, and wood carvings, the Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu Guild Hall is hailed as the epitome of architectural artistry during the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Henan Province. The intricate wood carvings demonstrate a harmonious blend of complexity and order, with compact yet spacious compositions that exude both opulence and meticulous craftsmanship. Particularly remarkable are the carvings of dragons playing with pearls and phoenixes amidst peonies under the eaves of the main hall, showcasing exceptional carving techniques and artistic expression.
Stone Carvings
Stone carvings adorn various architectural elements such as pillars, railings, drum pedestals, walls, altars, and foundations, featuring lavish compositions and exquisite craftsmanship. At the center of the guild hall’s screen wall is a depiction of two dragons playing with pearls, symbolizing the concept of “heavenly circle and earthly square.” Flanking this central motif are prominent carvings of the characters “忠义仁勇” meaning “loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, and courage,” representing the embodiment of Guan Yu’s spirit in the realm of commerce.
Brick Carvings
Furthermore, the guild hall features extensive use of brick carvings on structures such as gate towers, screen walls, entrance gates, and roof ridges. These carvings employ various techniques including flat, relief, round, and through-carving methods, depicting a diverse array of motifs such as lions with embroidered balls, magpies with plum blossoms, herons with lotus flowers, squirrels with grapes, and mythical creatures symbolizing prosperity, as well as scenes of warriors and horses.
