The Shanxi Guild Hall is located in the southwest of Duolun City. It was built in the 10th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1745) by merchants from Shanxi and Mongolia. The purpose of building the museum is to facilitate exchanges with Shanxi compatriots and to provide a place for newcomers to this area to stay. Shanxi Guild Hall is a relatively well-preserved ancient Qing Dynasty building complex in the old city of Duolun, with a history of more than 250 years. The guild hall faces south and can be roughly divided into accommodation area, entertainment area, business meeting area and Guandi Temple. In front of the gate of the guild hall, there is a tall archway with carved beams and painted buildings, which shows the wealth of Shanxi merchants. The Grand Theater is the “star” building of the guild hall. This large theater building is entirely made of square stones, which happens to be in a “convex” shape. There are thick pillars on the stage supporting the front half of the theater, and the beak-like eaves at the four corners of the roof pierce the sky. At its southeast corner, there is a bright mirror hanging on it, facing northwest, which can reflect the Shanyin Temple several miles away. According to archaeologists, there are only two buildings in China using this kind of architectural structure. The entertainment area of ​​the guild hall is mainly centered on this large theater building. The opera starts on the 13th of May every year and continues until the cool weather after autumn. During the Duolun Temple Fair on June 15th, the performances in the hall often reach their climax. There are also performances for several days around the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and the types of operas sung are naturally Shanxi Bangzi. On the west side of the hall, stands a standing white marble statue of General Ji Hongchang, a famous anti-Japanese general. In late June 1933, General Ji Hongchang led the main force of the Anti-Japanese Allied Forces and finally captured Duolun City after five days and five nights of fierce fighting. This was the first county town that the Chinese army conquered on its own in the history of China’s Anti-Japanese War, which greatly inspired the Chinese people’s confidence in resisting Japan.
Reference when using
1-3 hours
Opening hours
08:00-17:30 (January 1st - December 31st, Monday - Sunday)