Xuchang | Yuzhou, Huaibang Guild Hall.

I came to Yuzhou for a day and decided to visit the Huaibang Guild Hall. Its carvings are worth seeing, and it's a national key cultural relic protection site. The Huaibang Guild Hall was built in the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty. It was funded by medicine merchants from the Huaiqing Prefecture (present-day Jiaozuo, Qinyang, etc., in Henan). The guild hall got its name from the "Huaibang" inscription on the blue bricks used in its construction. The building's layout is complete, and the carvings are exquisite. There's a local saying, "Thirteen guilds together can't compare to one hall of Huaibang." After liberation, part of the guild hall was demolished when it was used as a school. The wood carvings in the main hall are worth seeing. They are intricate and orderly, with rich themes. The side halls on the left and right have some historical materials about the medicine merchants. In the stone carving area, there are stone carvings, epitaphs, and brick sections unearthed and collected in Yuzhou. The content is quite rich and diverse, making it a worthwhile stop. The guild hall is free and closed on Mondays. It takes about 1–2 hours to visit. If you have time in Yuzhou, it's recommended to visit. Nearby are the Tianning Wanshou Temple and the Gujuntai, but unfortunately, they are located within a school and cannot be visited up close. Opening hours: Morning: 9:00 am–12:00 pm Afternoon: 2:00–5:00 pm