Huai'an Ancient Town Exploration Guide

Zhuangyuanli Ancient Architectural Complex The Zhuangyuanli Ancient Architectural Complex project is located in the Zhuangyuanli area, the core of Hexia Ancient Town, which is the first batch of Jiangsu Provincial Historical and Cultural Blocks in the historical and cultural city of Huai'an District. The main part of the Zhuangyuanli Ancient Architectural Complex includes three ancient buildings: "Jinshi Di" (Scholar's Residence) is named "Shi Jinshi Di" (Generations of Jinshi Residence) because of Hu Lian, Hu Xiaocai, and Hu Yingjia, three generations of grandfather, father, and son from the Ming Dynasty, who were all "three Jinshi scholars from one family"; because Hanlin scholars were also known as "Taishi" (Grand Historian), the mansion where Cheng Hang, a descendant of Huizhou salt merchants, a Jinshi, and a Bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, resided was called Daishi Di, and the alley was called Taishi Di Alley; ancient people believed that Wenxing (Star of Literature) and Kuixing (Star of the Big Dipper) were stars that governed literature, and those who passed the imperial examination with high honors to become Jinshi were considered the top scholars in literature, thus receiving "Wen Kui" plaques and having "Wen Kui Lou" (Tower of Literary Excellence) built in their memory. The residence where Wu Zhun, a descendant of Hexia Huizhou salt merchants and a Jinshi, and his family lived was called "Wen Kui Lou". The Zhuangyuanli Ancient Architectural Complex project integrates traditional Chinese classical architecture with Hexia's Jinshi culture.