Hu Xueyan Memorial Hall

Located in Jixi County, the memorial covers an area of about 800 square meters, including two courtyards. The original site is Wenchang hall built in the Ming Dynasty.

With a large number of pictures, books and objects, the memorial reproduces Hu Xueyan's life in the business world. It is reported that the memorial has collected nearly 1000 pieces of tools and daily necessities used by Hu Xueyan during his lifetime, and more than 100 pieces have been put on display. The memorial also opened a "pharmacy bureau" following the example of the "Huqingyutang" national medicine brand. The "Huqingyutang" in Hangzhou provides thousands of Chinese patent medicines and employs experts of traditional Chinese medicine to provide services for visitors.

Background: Hu Xueyan was born in Huli village, Jixi County in 1823 and died in 1885. He was a famous "red top businessman" who was also a businessman and official in the Qing Dynasty and a representative of Huizhou merchants. During the heyday of his career, he owned more than 20 branches across the country, with 20 million taels of silver and 10000 mu of land. Hu Xueyan once assisted Zuo Zongtang, a famous Minister of Qing Dynasty, to set up westernization and industry. During the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, Hu Xueyan prepared to set up the "Huqingyutang" national drug brand in Hangzhou, and later developed into two major pharmaceutical giants in the north and the south, juxtaposed with Beijing's "Tongrentang".

Hu Xueyan Memorial Hall

Located in Jixi County, Anhui Province, Hu Xueyan Memorial Hall covers an area of about 800 square meters, including two courtyards. The original site is Wenchang hall built in the Ming Dynasty. With a large number of pictures, books and objects, the memorial reproduces Hu Xueyan's life in the business world. It is reported that the memorial hall has collected nearly 1000 pieces of tools and daily necessities used by Hu Xueyan during his lifetime, and more than 100 pieces have been put on display. The memorial also opened a "pharmacy bureau" following the example of the "Huqingyutang" national medicine brand. The "Huqingyutang" in Hangzhou provides thousands of Chinese patent medicines and employs experts of traditional Chinese medicine to provide services for visitors.

Biography of characters

Hu Guangyong (1823-1885), a native of Huli village, was named Shunguan in his childhood and Xueyan in his name. When he was a child, Yong was poor and helped others herd cattle for a living. He was a little older. He was recommended as an apprentice to Qian Si, who was surnamed Yu in Hangzhou. He was appreciated by the owner of the shop and promoted to running on the street. In the tenth year of Xianfeng (1860), because there was no empress, he gave it as a gift from a bank before he died. He opened a bank in Fukang and made contacts with officials. He became a great merchant gentry in Hangzhou.

Life of the characters

In November 1861, the Taiping army attacked Hangzhou. Guangyong purchased and transported arms, grain and rice from Shanghai and Ningbo to help the Qing army. Zuo Zongtang was the governor of Zhejiang Province, appointed Guangyong as the general manager, and presided over the whole province's money, grain and military pay. Fukang was taken as the external Treasury by all the officials in and out of Beijing. He also helped Zuo Zongtang to set up an enterprise, presided over the Shanghai mining and Transportation Bureau, and also took charge of the general political situation in Fujian Province. He obtained a large amount of commission by purchasing foreign machinery, arms and inviting foreign technicians. He also manipulated the business of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, monopolized the export of silk and tea, manipulated the market and monopolized finance.

In 1872, there were more than 20 branches in Fukang, which spread to the north and south of the river. The capital is more than 20 million Liang and the land is ten thousand mu. Due to his contribution to Zuo Zongtang, he once gave Jiangxi alternate Dao and wearing yellow mandarin jacket, which is a typical official businessman.

In 1876, it purchased more than 10 mu of land outside yongjinmenwai in Hangzhou to build a rubber factory. Based on a well-known pharmacy Bureau, Hu qingyutang hired famous doctors from Zhejiang Province to collect ancient prescriptions and sum up experience. He selected more than 400 proven prescriptions of Wan San Gao Dan and Jiao Lu You Jiu. The refined medicine is easy to carry and take. At that time, wars were still frequent and pestilence was prevalent. Drugs such as Hu's BiWen pill, Zhuge Xingjun powder and Babao Hongling pill were popular. Since then, Hu Guangyong wrote a plaque with the word "don't deceive" in person, admonishing the staff that "the pharmaceutical industry is related to life, especially not to be deceived" and that "the purchase is true, and the repair and manufacture are refined". The medicinal materials are purchased directly from the producing areas, and the deer breeding garden is set up. Hu qingyutang has become a large-scale Chinese patent medicine brand in China, which is well-known both at home and abroad, and has played a role in promoting the development of Chinese medicine.

In 1882, Guangyong set up a silk factory in Shanghai, which consumed 20 million liang of silver and received millions of taels of domestic new silk at a high price. He tried to monopolize the silk trade, angered foreign businessmen and refused to buy Chinese silk. And because the customs is in the hands of outsiders, it can not be directly transported abroad. The next summer, he was forced to sell at a low price, lost 10 million Liang, lost half of his family's capital, and failed to make good turnover. Bureaucrats all over the country scrambled for deposits and organized extortion. In November, local businesses closed down and their properties were sold off. Hu Qingyu hall changed its owner and declared bankrupt. Then, the Qing government ordered dismissal, investigation and strict punishment. Guangyong dismissed his concubines and servants and died in November of the 11th year of Guangxu.

Memorial information

Opening hours: 7:00-18:00

Pick up place: gate of Hu Xueyan Memorial

Special groups:

A. Free policy: children under 1.2m are free of charge.

B. Preferential policies: children tickets between 1.2-1.5 meters; senior citizens over 60 years old, military officers, students and the disabled with valid certificates.

Address: Jixi County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province

Longitude: 118.59491416931

Latitude: 30.071186160703

Tel: 0563-3194444

Ticket information: 20 yuan

Opening hours: 07:30-18:00.