Situated in the south of Anhui Province, along the upper reaches of the Xin'an River, Shexian County was called Huizhou in ancient times, and after the Sui Dynasty it was a prefecture seat. After the Song Dynasty, the culture in Shexian County became flourishing due to the development of the business of the merchants born in Anhui. The memorial archways, ancestral temples and folk houses are reputed as “three unique constructions in Huizhou”. The memorial archway, the material symbol of the Chinese feudalism, is the most distinctive feature of Huizhou Culture. |